Manager Oliver Marmol and the Cardinals are adding left-hander Matthew Liberatore to the starting rotation, with his first outing of the season set for April 19th against the Mets. The move is aimed at preserving the health of top arms like Sonny Gray during a demanding stretch in the schedule.
St. Louis’ rotation has been on a roll recently, allowing just four runs across the last four games. But despite the strong performance, Marmol is taking a cautious approach, looking to prevent wear and tear early in the season.
According to The Athletic’s Katie Woo, Marmol emphasized the importance of early-season pitcher safety in his decision. He also wants to make sure both Liberatore and Steven Matz continue to get regular starts.
“When you look at safety in March and April, that’s a big part of it,” Marmol said. “Being able to ramp up and keep our guys that are on the roster, on the roster, we felt like inserting (Matz) on the 16th and staying on track made the most sense.”
Cardinals Lead the Way with Six-Man Rotation Strategy
The St. Louis Cardinals have become the first team this season to implement a six-man rotation — but they might not be the last. The Los Angeles Dodgers have hinted at adopting a similar setup once Shohei Ohtani is ready to pitch again.
Cardinals starter Eric Fedde supports the strategy, highlighting the long-term benefits of extra rest.
“The goal is to be playing important games in August, September, October,” Fedde told The Athletic’s Katie Woo. “Of course we want the ball as much as we can now, but it’s really important to get that rest and be fresh later in the year.”
While the move might seem unorthodox — especially under a traditionally minded manager like Oliver Marmol — it could pay off by keeping the rotation healthy and available deep into the season.
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