The St. Louis Cardinals gave Matthew Liberatore the runway to experience a full season in the starting rotation. He looks to have earned the nod to remain in the rotation for next season, even though recent starts have seen the lefty drop in velocity and stamina, and he has not pitched deeper than the fifth inning in any start since the All-Star break.
Liberatore’s stamina has been a focus for the Cardinals since the All-Star break, skipping his first start in the second half, and monitoring his velocity through his starts.
“We’re going to continue to closely monitor it,” Oli Marmol told Katie Woo of The Athletic about Liberatore’s velocity. “If it doesn’t make sense to continue to have him go because there’s a regression in his overall stuff, velocity, being able to hold it, then we’ll make a decision on it.”
This raises the question of what the Cardinals' options are if Liberatore’s velocity continues to drop off during his starts.
One option that the Cardinals have is Kyle Leahy. The right-handed reliever has shown his ability to relieve in an extended role, recently pitching 3.2 innings against the Colorado Rockies during their second series after the All-Star break.
If Liberatore were to go shorter than five innings in a start, the Cardinals could have Leahy come in to bridge the gap. The right-hander would not have to be the first guy out every game if Liberatore can extend his start into the sixth.
This allows the Cardinals to have the flexibility to use Leahy in games throughout the week, while holding him available for an extended appearance behind Liberatore if needed. This plan would show the coaching staff's belief in Liberatore while also preparing for any possible challenges he encounters.
Matt Svanson entered the game on Tuesday following Liberatore and pitched three innings. He could be another option for the Cardinals if Leahy is unavailable due to usage in games before Liberatore’s start.
The Cardinals look to be set on sticking with Liberatore, and could be somewhat encouraged by his progress after he held his velocity deeper in Tuesday’s start. But if the regression continues, the Cardinals may turn to their contingency plans with more frequency.