The St. Louis Cardinals slipped back to the .500 mark after suffering a 7-3 defeat to the Chicago Cubs on Monday night, and another disappointing outing from Matthew Liberatore only added to the team’s growing concerns.
Liberatore got the start but struggled once again, surrendering three earned runs in just 3 2/3 innings. The left-hander now owns a 5-8 record with a 5.26 ERA through 21 starts this season, continuing a difficult campaign that has raised questions about his long-term role in the rotation.
Hunter Dobbins entered in relief and handled the remainder of the game, covering 5 1/3 innings while allowing four runs. Although he wasn’t flawless, Dobbins kept St. Louis within striking distance until the ninth inning and delivered another encouraging performance.
Following yet another rough start from Liberatore, the Cardinals may need to seriously reconsider their rotation plans.
Liberatore has struggled to find consistency throughout the season and has not looked like the same pitcher who showed promise earlier in his career. With his performance continuing to decline, manager Oli Marmol may need to make a difficult but necessary decision.
One logical move would be shifting Liberatore back into the bullpen while giving Dobbins an opportunity to join the starting rotation. Dobbins has shown signs that he can handle a larger workload and has put together several respectable outings.
The Cardinals could soon have another opening in the rotation if Dustin May is moved before the trade deadline. Rather than returning Liberatore to a starting role, St. Louis could instead turn to one of its young pitching prospects. Left-hander Quinn Mathews appears to be a strong candidate, while Brycen Mautz remains another intriguing option developing in the minor leagues.
At this stage, Liberatore’s time as a starter appears increasingly difficult to justify. While the Cardinals remain focused on their rebuilding process and developing young talent, they also need to reward players who are earning opportunities. Dobbins and Mathews both appear positioned to receive extended looks, whereas Liberatore has yet to establish himself as a dependable member of the rotation.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Liberatore’s future with the organization is in jeopardy. He has previously been effective coming out of the bullpen, and a permanent transition to a relief role could allow him to maximize his strengths while giving the club greater flexibility.
Meanwhile, Dobbins continues to build a compelling case for a rotation spot. After tossing six scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels last week and following it up with another solid long-relief appearance against Chicago, the right-hander has demonstrated he deserves a legitimate opportunity to finish the season as part of St. Louis’ starting five.