Key Cardinals Reliever Matthew Liberatore Committing to 2025 Rotation Return

As the St. Louis Cardinals enter a rebuilding phase, the team faces significant challenges, particularly on the mound. After another playoff-less season, the Cardinals have focused on strengthening their minor league system, with little movement in free agency. Amidst this, one key pitcher, Matthew Liberatore, is preparing to transition from a reliever to a starter in 2025.

Matthew Liberatore’s Role Shift for 2025

Matthew Liberatore, a left-handed pitcher who found his niche in 2024 as a dependable reliever, is now shifting his focus towards joining the starting rotation in 2025. According to John Denton of MLB.com, Liberatore is actively working to earn a spot in the Cardinals’ rotation this Spring Training. “It’s easier to go from five innings to one than one to five,” Liberatore shared on social media, acknowledging the challenges ahead. His key focus for the upcoming season will be improving his performance against right-handed hitters, a crucial aspect if he is to succeed in a starting role.

Liberatore’s Journey with the Cardinals

Entering his fourth season with the Cardinals, Liberatore, 25, has had a fluctuating role since his debut. In 2022 and 2023, he split his time between the rotation and the bullpen, making 18 starts and 13 relief appearances. Despite a 5.51 ERA in those two seasons, he made notable progress in 2024, posting a 4.40 ERA with six starts and 54 relief appearances. This improvement, however, was not enough to elevate the Cardinals’ pitching staff, which remains one of the team’s weakest links as they enter their rebuilding phase.

Cardinals’ Rebuilding Strategy and Pitching Development

The Cardinals’ pitching staff remains lackluster, a major factor contributing to their ongoing rebuild. The addition of Chaim Bloom, the former Red Sox general manager, to oversee the team’s farm system, signals a long-term strategy aimed at developing homegrown talent. Currently, Andre Pallante is the only pitcher on the 2024 roster who started his career with the Cardinals and made over 20 starts. This highlights the team’s need to invest in developing pitchers internally, with Liberatore being a potential key figure in that process.

However, for Liberatore to succeed as a starter, he must drastically improve against right-handed hitters. His career statistics show a troubling .292 batting average against righties, compared to just .212 against lefties. Additionally, 18 of the 21 home runs he has allowed in his career have come from right-handed batters, and he has walked 61 right-handed hitters versus just 10 lefties.

Looking Ahead: Liberatore’s Role in the Cardinals’ Future

With three starting pitchers—Miles Mikolas, Erick Fedde, and Steven Matz—hitting free agency after the 2025 season, the Cardinals could be faced with the possibility of trading them away at the trade deadline. If that happens, the team will need to rely on homegrown talent to fill those spots. Developing Liberatore as a starter from the beginning of the 2025 season will be key to making that transition smoother.

While the Cardinals may still explore free agency for additional starting pitchers, building their own talent offers a more sustainable and efficient path forward. Liberatore’s development as a starting pitcher could play a vital role in filling the gaps on the mound, helping the Cardinals rebuild toward a brighter future.

Conclusion

Matthew Liberatore’s commitment to becoming a starting pitcher in 2025 marks a pivotal moment for the St. Louis Cardinals as they navigate their rebuild. With improvements needed in his ability to face right-handed hitters, his development will be essential to the team’s success. The Cardinals are investing in their future, and Liberatore could very well be a crucial piece in the team’s pitching rotation as they look to rise from their rebuild in the coming seasons.