The St. Louis Cardinals have been hit hard by injuries over the past week, particularly on the mound. Two starting pitchers have landed on the injured list, with the team placing both Andre Pallante and Hunter Dobbins on the IL within just a few hours of each other.
That leaves the Cardinals scrambling to find a fifth starter who can help them get through the rest of the season and provide innings while they wait for Pallante to return. Pallante shouldn’t be sidelined for much longer, but his absence is still a significant blow to the pitching staff.
However, Fangraphs’ list of probable starters includes a potential replacement. Prospect Cooper Hjerpe is listed as Thursday’s starter for the Cardinals’ series finale against the Baltimore Orioles.
The Cardinals selected Hjerpe in the first round of the 2022 draft out of Oregon State University. The left-hander has dealt with several injuries since being drafted by St. Louis, but he has finally managed to get healthy and could be an option to fill the rotation spot while the Cardinals wait for Pallante to return.
The 25-year-old has made 14 starts in the minor leagues this season, posting an 0-1 record with a 3.08 ERA. St. Louis has plenty of pitching depth in its minor league system, but most of those arms aren’t quite ready for the majors. Richard Fitts is the only other pitcher who appears major league ready, and he is out for the season with a lat injury.
That could make Hjerpe the Cardinals’ best option. While it hasn’t been officially confirmed that he will start Thursday, he is certainly a possibility and is a pitcher Cardinals fans have been eager to see for quite some time.
The Cardinals desperately need a fifth starter right now to help cover innings. Their bullpen was heavily taxed during their most recent road trip, so finding a starter who can take some of that workload could ease the pressure and help the team navigate the rest of the season.
Their internal options don’t inspire much confidence, but they will have to find a solution. The Cardinals could opt for a bullpen game Thursday, although that could be risky considering how heavily the bullpen was used over the weekend in Philadelphia. What St. Louis ultimately decides remains unclear, but Hjerpe is certainly an option.
St. Louis Cardinals Might Have Other Options to Fill Rotation
Another possibility for St. Louis would be to sign a free-agent starting pitcher. The available options aren’t particularly strong, but the Cardinals are in a position where they simply need someone who can fill the vacant spot. Former Cardinal Miles Mikolas was released by the Washington Nationals earlier this month, while Michael Lorenzen was recently let go by the Colorado Rockies.
The Cardinals aren’t exactly competing for a playoff spot, so they’re unlikely to land an established starter, especially with the trade deadline already passed. Still, they need to find a way to cover the rotation spot for at least a week.