The St. Louis Cardinals are considering deploying a six-man rotation to open the season, manager Oliver Marmol revealed this morning. The move would create space for right-hander Michael McGreevy alongside Sonny Gray, Erick Fedde, Miles Mikolas, Andre Pallante, and Steven Matz, per John Denton of MLB.com.
Why a Six-Man Rotation?
- Workload management: Gray and Mikolas are veteran arms, and a six-man rotation could help preserve their effectiveness.
- McGreevy’s development: The 24-year-old was a first-round pick in 2021 and has already logged 51 Triple-A starts. His strong Spring Training makes him a viable option for a bigger MLB role.
- Flexibility for the season: Injuries and performance fluctuations could still alter the rotation composition.
Michael McGreevy’s Case for the Rotation
- MLB debut (2024): 23 innings, 1.96 ERA, 18-to-2 K/BB ratio.
- Triple-A stats (2024): 4.02 ERA, 21.6% strikeout rate, 6.9% walk rate, 49% ground-ball rate in 150 innings.
- Spring Training (2025): 11 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 9 H, 0 BB, 47.1% ground-ball rate, though his 18.6% strikeout rate is below average.
McGreevy currently ranks 10th among Cardinals prospects at Baseball America and 11th at MLB.com. Given his consistency, he appears ready for an extended MLB opportunity.
Potential Rotation Adjustments
While a six-man rotation is in play, the situation remains fluid:
- Injuries could force the Cardinals to revert to a five-man setup.
- Trade possibilities: Reports earlier this month indicated the team was “open” to offers on Fedde, though there’s no sign they are actively shopping him.
- Matthew Liberatore’s role: The former top prospect was considered for the rotation but is expected to begin the season as a reliever, per team president John Mozeliak.
With Opening Day approaching, the Cardinals will soon have to finalize their decision on whether McGreevy joins the rotation or if he begins the season in Triple-A or the bullpen.
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