The St. Louis Cardinals’ disappointing stretch continued Monday night with a 7-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs, dropping the club back to an even .500 record and adding to the growing concerns surrounding its starting rotation. Once again, left-hander Matthew Liberatore struggled to provide the stability the team desperately needed, prompting renewed calls for the Cardinals to make a significant change before the season slips further away.
Liberatore was given the start against Chicago but was unable to keep the Cubs’ offense under control. The left-hander surrendered three runs over 3 2/3 innings, continuing what has been an inconsistent and frustrating 2026 campaign. Following the outing, his record fell to 5-8 with a 5.26 ERA through 21 starts, numbers that reflect a season filled with missed opportunities and an inability to consistently pitch deep into games.
After Liberatore exited, Hunter Dobbins entered in relief and shouldered the workload for the remainder of the contest. Although Dobbins gave up four runs across 5 1/3 innings, his performance helped keep the Cardinals within striking distance for much of the game before the Cubs finally pulled away in the ninth inning.
While the loss itself was disappointing, it also intensified questions about Liberatore’s long-term role on the roster.
Many believe the Cardinals have reached a point where continuing to send Liberatore out as a starting pitcher no longer benefits either the player or the organization. Despite receiving multiple opportunities to establish himself in the rotation, the former top prospect has struggled to produce consistent results and has not looked like the dependable starter the club envisioned when giving him an expanded role.
His performance has noticeably declined compared to the promise he showed earlier in his career, particularly during the early stages of the 2025 season. Since then, Liberatore has found it difficult to regain that level of effectiveness, often putting the Cardinals in an early deficit and forcing the bullpen to carry an increased workload.
Because of those struggles, the Cardinals may need to make a decisive move by shifting Liberatore back into the bullpen—a role in which he has previously shown success.
A transition to relief would not necessarily represent a demotion. Instead, it could allow Liberatore to focus on shorter outings, maximize the effectiveness of his arsenal, and rebuild confidence without the pressure of facing opposing lineups multiple times. His past performances out of the bullpen suggest he has the tools to become a valuable late-inning contributor if used in the right situation.
If that move is made, Hunter Dobbins appears to be the leading candidate to replace Liberatore in the starting rotation.
Dobbins has quietly impressed during his opportunities this season. In addition to providing valuable innings against the Cubs, he recently delivered six scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels, demonstrating the poise and consistency that could earn him an extended look as a starter. His recent performances suggest he may be ready to take on a larger role for the remainder of the season.
The Cardinals could soon have another opening in the rotation as well.
Veteran starter Dustin May has emerged as one of the team’s most frequently discussed trade candidates ahead of the MLB trade deadline. If St. Louis ultimately decides to move May, another rotation spot would become available, creating an opportunity for one of the organization’s highly regarded young pitchers.
Rather than returning Liberatore to the rotation, the Cardinals could use that vacancy to promote left-handed pitching prospect Quinn Mathews, who continues to be viewed as one of the organization’s most promising arms. Another option would be Brycen Mautz, who has also impressed in the minor leagues and could receive consideration if the front office chooses a different direction.
Although the Cardinals entered the season focused on developing young talent during their rebuilding process, development also requires honest evaluations. Giving opportunities to younger pitchers is important, but continuing to rely on a starter who has consistently struggled may ultimately hinder both individual and team progress.
Moving Liberatore to the bullpen while allowing Dobbins, Mathews, or another young arm to compete for a rotation spot would represent an internal adjustment rather than a dramatic overhaul. It would also signal that strong performance—not simply opportunity—will determine roles moving forward.
With the trade deadline approaching and the Cardinals fighting to remain relevant in the National League playoff race, the organization may no longer have the luxury of waiting for Liberatore to rediscover his form as a starter.
The time may have arrived for St. Louis to embrace a role better suited to Liberatore’s strengths while giving its next wave of young pitchers the opportunity to prove they belong in the rotation.
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