The St. Louis Cardinals have relied heavily on their starting rotation throughout the 2026 season, but that dependable strength is now facing one of its toughest tests of the year.
With only 30 games remaining, the Cardinals must find a way to maintain their pitching production while dealing with injuries to Andre Pallante and Hunter Dobbins, as well as an innings restriction placed on Kyle Leahy. The combination of those issues has created significant uncertainty at the back end of the rotation at a critical point in the season.
Despite being swept by the Philadelphia Phillies over the weekend, St. Louis’ rotation remains among the better groups in Major League Baseball. The starters rank in the top 10 in baseball in ERA at 3.95, innings pitched with 688 2/3, and quality starts with 47. That consistency has played a major role in keeping the Cardinals within reach of the National League postseason picture.
However, maintaining that level of performance could become increasingly difficult.
Pallante is expected to return around Sept. 1 after spending the minimum 15 days on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. His anticipated return would provide the Cardinals with an important boost, but the situation surrounding Dobbins is less certain.
Dobbins is dealing with right forearm tightness, an injury that could potentially require a longer recovery period. Losing him for an extended stretch would further complicate an already thin rotation and force the Cardinals to make creative decisions with their pitching staff.
Leahy’s workload is another major concern.
The right-hander has arguably been one of St. Louis’ most effective starters this season and has already thrown 126 1/3 innings. That total is 38 1/3 innings more than he worked last season as a reliever and represents his highest workload since 2022.
Because the organization wants to protect Leahy’s long-term health and ensure he remains capable of contributing in 2027 and beyond, the Cardinals have decided to carefully manage his workload during the final month of the season.
That could mean shorter starts or occasional appearances out of the bullpen rather than allowing him to consistently work deep into games. While the decision is understandable from a long-term perspective, it creates another immediate problem for a team that desperately needs innings.
As of Monday, St. Louis had only four starting pitchers on its active roster, leaving the organization with the difficult task of filling the fifth rotation spot while waiting for Pallante to return.
One possible solution is already pitching at Triple-A Memphis.
Cooper Hjerpe, ranked as the Cardinals’ No. 18 prospect by MLB Pipeline, has been outstanding since reaching Triple-A. In four starts at the level, he has posted a remarkable 0.60 ERA, making him an intriguing candidate for a potential Major League debut.
Hjerpe, however, comes with his own limitations.
The Cardinals selected him in the first round of the 2022 Draft, but he is still working his way back from Tommy John surgery performed in April 2025. His workload is being closely monitored, and he has not thrown more than 4 2/3 innings in any game this season.
That means promoting Hjerpe would not necessarily solve the Cardinals’ innings problem. Instead, he could potentially serve as part of a carefully managed pitching arrangement in which the bullpen would have to cover several innings.
The organization has also added veteran left-hander Josh Fleming on a Minor League contract. Fleming made his first start for Memphis on Sunday, working five innings while surrendering four runs.
His experience could make him a useful option, particularly if St. Louis needs someone capable of providing innings on short notice. However, Fleming has not been a regular Major League starter since 2021, so expecting him to immediately step into a traditional rotation role would carry some uncertainty.
The Cardinals’ pitching pipeline is considerably healthier than it was in previous seasons, but much of the organization’s promising young depth is not yet ready for a full-time Major League workload. Others have already been exposed to the majors or are currently dealing with injuries.
As a result, St. Louis may have to consider multiple short-term solutions.
The club could look outside the organization for an experienced veteran seeking another opportunity, although finding a reliable starter at this stage of the season would not necessarily be easy. Another possibility would be to use bullpen games over the next week and a half while waiting for Pallante’s return.
Regardless of the approach, Michael McGreevy, Matthew Liberatore and Quinn Mathews are likely to face increased pressure. The Cardinals need those pitchers to provide quality outings while working as deeply into games as their workloads allow.
That becomes even more important because Leahy’s starts are expected to require substantial bullpen support. If St. Louis uses a temporary replacement for the fifth rotation spot, that pitcher could also require additional coverage from the relievers.
The bullpen therefore becomes a crucial piece of the puzzle.
St. Louis’ relievers have struggled over the past several weeks, making the timing of the rotation problems particularly concerning. The Cardinals may need to promote fresh arms from Memphis or shuffle the bullpen in the coming days simply to prevent fatigue from becoming an even bigger issue.
A struggling bullpen combined with a shortened rotation can quickly become a dangerous formula, especially for a team operating with little margin for error in the postseason race.
The Cardinals currently sit 5 1/2 games behind the third National League Wild Card position. With only 30 games remaining, every missed opportunity could make the deficit increasingly difficult to overcome.
For much of the season, the starting rotation has been the foundation that kept St. Louis competitive. Now, however, the rest of the roster may need to return the favor.
The offense will need to produce more consistently, the bullpen must stabilize, and the defense cannot afford unnecessary mistakes. The Cardinals cannot expect their starters to carry the entire team through the final stretch, particularly while injuries and workload restrictions are limiting their options.
Monday’s off-day gives the organization an opportunity to regroup and evaluate its next move. But once the team returns to action Tuesday, St. Louis will need an all-hands-on-deck approach.
The Cardinals still have a path toward the postseason, but their margin for error is shrinking rapidly. How effectively they navigate this pitching crisis over the next few weeks could ultimately determine whether their Wild Card hopes remain alive or fade away before September is over.
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