The St. Louis Cardinals slipped back to the .500 mark after suffering a 7-3 defeat to the Chicago Cubs on Monday night. Left-hander Matthew Liberatore got the start but struggled once again, allowing three runs in just 3 2/3 innings. The outing dropped his record to 5-8 with a 5.26 ERA through 21 starts this season.
Hunter Dobbins entered in relief and covered the final 5 1/3 innings for St. Louis. Although he surrendered four runs, Dobbins gave the Cardinals valuable length and kept the contest within reach until the ninth inning.
Following another disappointing outing from Liberatore, the Cardinals may need to reconsider his role in the pitching staff.
Manager Oli Marmol appears to be approaching a pivotal decision. Liberatore has struggled to find consistency throughout the 2026 campaign and has not looked like the pitcher who showed promise earlier in his career. With his continued difficulties, it may be time for St. Louis to make a permanent change.
A logical next step would be shifting Liberatore back into the bullpen, where he has previously found success, while giving Hunter Dobbins an opportunity to take over his spot in the starting rotation.
The situation could become even more relevant if Dustin May is moved before the trade deadline, creating another opening in the rotation. Rather than returning Liberatore to a starting role, the Cardinals could instead promote top left-handed prospect Quinn Mathews, who has been dominant in Triple-A. Another potential option is Brycen Mautz, giving the organization multiple internal candidates capable of filling a rotation vacancy.
At this stage, the evidence suggests that Liberatore’s stint as a starter has not produced the desired results. While the Cardinals remain committed to developing young talent during their rebuilding process, that goal can still be accomplished by giving opportunities to pitchers who appear better positioned to succeed at the major league level.
Moving Liberatore to the bullpen would not necessarily be a demotion. He has previously been effective in a relief role, and a permanent transition there could allow him to maximize his strengths while improving the overall pitching staff. Meanwhile, the Cardinals would benefit from evaluating younger starters who could be part of the club’s long-term plans.
Dobbins has already made a compelling case for a larger role. In addition to providing extended relief against the Cubs, he tossed six scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels in his previous appearance. His recent performances suggest he has earned a chance to remain in the starting rotation for the rest of the season as the Cardinals continue evaluating their future.