Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Set for start Monday
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Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Liberatore will start Monday's series opener against the Angels in Anaheim, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
After he had worked out of the bullpen all season, Liberatore was on a limited pitch count when he was called upon to take over the injured Steven Matz's (back) spot in the rotation last Sunday versus the White Sox. Liberatore struck out five and allowed one earned run over 3.2 innings in a no-decision against Chicago before shifting back to the bullpen for this weekend's series in Milwaukee. He recorded just one out while allowing two earned runs in Friday's 11-2 loss, so Liberatore will be taking the hill on two days' rest Monday. Expect Liberatore to once again operate on a pitch limit, making him an unappealing streaming target.
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Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Available in relief
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Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Thursday that Liberatore will be available out of the bullpen for the team's series this weekend in Milwaukee, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Liberatore remains a candidate to draw a start early next week, but he will sit with the relievers this weekend in case he's needed. The left-hander allowed one run over 3.2 innings in a spot start versus the White Sox in his last appearance and before that held a 2.76 ERA in 12 relief appearances.
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Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Effective in rare start
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Liberatore pitched 3.2 innings, giving up one run on three hits while striking out five batters in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the White Sox. He did not factor into the decision.
Liberatore was called upon to make his first start of the season Sunday, and he did not disappoint. The southpaw allowed a double to Paul DeJong, who later came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Bryan Ramos, in the second inning, accounting for all the damage on Liberatore's line. The 24-year-old's 50 total pitches were his highest total of the season while the 3.2 innings on the mound set a new high for an outing this season. Operating primarily as a bullpen option in 2024, Liberatore now owns a 2.70 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 15 strikeouts over 20 innings in 13 appearances, including Sunday's start.
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Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Getting spot start Sunday
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Liberatore will start Sunday's game against the White Sox, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
All 12 of Liberatore's appearances this season have come in relief, so while he did throw three innings in an April 28 appearance, the Cardinals are most likely treating Sunday's contest as a bullpen day. However, it's possible Liberatore could fill a more traditional starting role moving forward if he pitches well Sunday, as the Cardinals have an opening while Steven Matz (back) is on the 15-day injured list.
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Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Nabs win in matinee
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Liberatore (1-1) pitched a perfect inning and struck out two batters to earn the win in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader versus the Tigers.
Liberatore bounced back from his first loss of the season Sunday with a clean outing in the eighth inning Tuesday. The Cardinals then rallied ahead in the ninth, and Ryan Helsley closed the door for a save. Liberatore has been solid with a 2.93 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 9:8 K:BB through 15.1 innings over 11 appearances as a multi-inning relief option this season. Tuesday also marked the first time in six appearances he avoided walking a batter.
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Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Takes extra-innings loss
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Liberatore (0-1) allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and a walk over three innings, taking the extra-innings loss versus the Mets on Sunday. He did not record a strikeout.
Liberatore was called on for a long-relief assignment that began in the eighth inning and ended with a walk-off home run by Mark Vientos in the 11th. This was Liberatore's longest outing of the season, and it came in a game during which the Cardinals' bullpen had multiple high-leverage relievers unavailable due to recent workloads. The southpaw now has a 3.14 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 7:8 K:BB across 14.1 innings over 10 appearances this season. Liberatore's history as a starter will keep him in a long-relief role unless the Cardinals feel the need to swap him out for a fresher arm heading into Monday's game versus the Tigers.
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Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Not available Sunday
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Liberatore will be unavailable with an illness for the third straight day Sunday against the Diamondbacks, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Liberatore was sent home Thursday with an illness that had him nauseous and will not be available to pitch against the Diamondbacks. The reliever, who currently has a 3.52 ERA, will reconvene with the team Monday as they travel to Oakland to face the Athletics, though his availability to pitch in that series is still unknown.
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Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Moving to bullpen
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Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Friday that Liberatore will work out of the bullpen to begin the season, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
The 24-year-old was attempting to win a spot in St. Louis' season-opening rotation, but Zack Thompson will instead fill in while Sonny Gray (hamstring) is on the injured list. Liberatore started in 11 of his 22 big-league appearances last season and could work as a swingman again in 2024.
Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: In battle for last rotation spot
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Liberatore is in competition with Zack Thompson for the last spot in the Cardinals' rotation, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Liberatore is lagging behind in results with three runs allowed over five innings across two spring starts so far. There's a chance both Liberatore and Thompson could make the rotation -- Steven Matz is being brought along slowly this spring after an injury-riddled 2023. Liberatore started half of his 22 outings last season, pitching to a 5.25 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 46:25 K:BB over 61.2 innings. He'll need to show better to avoid a trip to Triple-A Memphis.
Liberatore (3-6) allowed two runs on two hits and struck out one over two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Friday versus the Padres.
The young lefty surrendered a two-run home run to Manny Machado in the eighth inning, ending Liberatore's eight-inning scoreless streak. He has a 5.52 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 44:24 K:BB through 58.2 innings across 19 outings (11 starts) this season.
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Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Awarded win Friday
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Liberatore (3-5) walked one and struck out three over 1.1 scoreless and hitless innings to earn the win Friday over the Reds.
Liberatore was deemed the most effective reliever and awarded the win after starter Drew Rom went just 3.2 innings. This was Liberatore's second outing since returning from a back injury, and he's struck out four without giving up a hit over 2.2 innings. The southpaw is expected to fill a multi-inning role out of the bullpen for the rest of the year. He has a 5.81 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 39:22 K:BB through 52.2 innings over 14 appearances (11 starts) this season.
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Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Returns from IL
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Liberatore (back) was activated from the 15-day injured list Monday.
Liberatore didn't pitch well in two rehab starts with Triple-A Memphis, allowing six runs while walking 10 over 6.2 innings. He brought his pitch count up to 83 in his last outing Sunday, and the Cardinals have decided he's ready to join the big club, despite his poor results in the minors. St. Louis presumably wants to stick Liberatore back in its rotation, though it's unclear when he might make his next start.
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Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Set for bullpen role
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Liberatore (back) will pitch out of the bullpen for the Cardinals after he was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Monday, Jim Hayes of Bally Sports Midwest reports.
Liberatore will be available in relief beginning with Wednesday's game at Atlanta. The 23-year-old left-hander has struggled to a 6.12 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 35:21 K:BB in 50 innings (11 starts, one relief appearance) this season at the major-league level and surrendered seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and 10 walks over 6.2 innings between his most recent two rehab starts at Triple-A Memphis. With Liberatore moving to the bullpen, Drew Rom will retain a spot in the St. Louis rotation as the team's fifth starter.
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Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Another inefficient rehab start
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Liberatore (back) struck out six while allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and five walks over three innings in his rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Memphis.
Though the young southpaw was able to build up to 90 pitches Sunday, he threw just 50 strikes and issued five free passes for the second rehab outing in a row. Liberatore looks to be fully stretched out again after landing on the 15-day injured list Aug. 22 with lower-back tightness, but his ongoing struggles in finding the strike zone could prompt the Cardinals to send him back out for another rehab start during the upcoming week rather than activating him.
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Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Getting another rehab start
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Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Friday that Liberatore is scheduled to make at least one more rehab start at Triple-A Memphis prior to being activated from the 15-day injured list, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Though Liberatore tossed 78 pitches in his first rehab start with Memphis on Tuesday, he wasn't particularly sharp. He spotted only 45 of his pitches for strikes, recording five punchouts while allowing five runs on four hits and five walks over 3.2 innings. Liberatore will presumably make his next turn for Memphis on Sunday, and if he shows more efficiency in that outing, he could return from the IL for the Cardinals' series next weekend in Cincinnati.
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Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Tosses 78 pitches in rehab start
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Liberatore (back) covered 3.2 innings and gave up five earned runs on four hits and five walks while striking out five in his rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Memphis.
Though he didn't escape the fourth inning Tuesday, Liberatore still tossed 78 pitches (45 strikes) while taking the hill for the first time since landing on the 15-day injured list Aug. 22 with lower-back tightness. From a workload standpoint, Liberatore appears ready to re-enter the big-league rotation, but the Cardinals may want to see a more efficient outing in the minors from the young lefty before activating him.
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Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Ready for rehab assignment
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Liberatore (back) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Memphis, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Liberatore landed on the injured list last Tuesday, and he will get back up on the bump one week later. He has not appeared in a game since Aug. 16, so he could be back with the big club at some point in early September.
