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The way they’ve been pitching, it looks like 3 spots are going to be taken my McGreevy, Pallante, and Leahy. My guess is that Mathews will be given the 4th. That leaves one spot open. Since the Cards have been giving Dobbins some ML experience, will it be him? Looks like Mautz is headed for the pen. So will the 5th spot be Dobbins, or due to a major breakthrough this August (or at ST) be Fitts or Cijntje. Or maybe even Doyle leapfrogging all 3.
I think it would be wonderful to see some refreshing new faces in the 2027 rotation and a coupla more in the bull pen, though I have the feeling that what we’ve got is what we’ve got and we’ll just have to learn to love it.
I guess we’re just going to write off Liberatore. He has a smidge under 2 months to get back in the good graces.
Also Pallante should not be penciled into this roster in 27. Assuming it’s happening. He does cost a bit more to retain every year.
Cranny-
I’ve been wondering the same thing. I expect they’ll bring 6 starters to spring, the current 5 and Mathews, and let spring sort it out. Maybe an injury. Maybe they move Libby to the pen. Maybe they move Dobbins or Mathews back down to Memphis to be the 6th starter.
Hopefully Roby, Fitts, and Cijntje are all healthy and at AAA getting close to challenging for the big league squad. Henderson possibly, too, but I’m less sold on him. Maybe Mautz, at least till Roby, Fitts, or Cijntje clearly passes him as MLB ready.
But then I think…they want to do the May model. So what if they spot someone like May for next year’s rotation? Then it’s 7 starters at the beginning of spring. New buy, Pallante and Leahy get three of the spots. Libby most likely to the pen. Duel between McGreevy, Dobbins, and Mathews for the last two spots.
McGreevy, Pallante, Leahy, Libby, and Dobbins will all be in the mix but I expect the Cardinals to bring in at least one starter from the outside. It could be a veteran on a cheap one year deal like they did with May or they may try to swing a trade for a younger MLB ready starter with years of control by giving up some catcher depth.
I would also expect Mathews to be in the mix. We should plan on having 7 or 8 starters ready to go. We were fortunate this year by having no injuries to the rotation but you certainly can’t count on that happening again.
A wildcard in 2027 might be Doyle. They’ve let him unleash his fastball recently and the results have been outstanding. Sometime during 2027, my guess is that Mathews and Doyle are going to be the pleasant surprises.
I hate the thought of those guys laying around getting soft because they are locked out in the spring. I guess they try to find other MLB players in their area to work out with or maybe their agent hooks them up. I don’t remember what guys did last time.
Notes from the Cardinals about the current rotation:
Cardinals starting pitchers have provided the team with excellent stability, pitching to a 3.97 ERA that ranks 4th in the NL behind Division leaders MIL (3.36), LAD (3.56) and ATL (3.77)…the Cardinals 44 Quality Starts rank 3rd in the loop behind just the Dodgers (60) and Phillies (50)…tonight’s starter Kyle Leahy (1.38) owned the NL’s top starter ERA in July – it was the team’s best July mark since 2009 when Adam Wainwright (1.17) & Joel Pineiro (1.22) had stellar Julys.
Bling-
Agree re Henderson. I’m probably not fair to him. I’ve generally had him between Mautz and Hansen, with Mautz my favorite, then Henderson got hurt and we’ve not seen much, so I figure he’s likely drifted down the list just a little. But maybe. Clarke late in the year, yup. I don’t see a chance early in the year. He’s gonna get so little AA time and coming back from weird health problems…and with control that is only gonna hit the mascot by accident instead of intentionally. I look at the AA guys and figure none of them start above AAA, with Doyle or Franklin probably in the lead for that.
Molina was pitching great for AA S-Cards at the end of May and all of June. Since his call up to AAA he has stalled, but I wouldn’t give up on him. He’ll figure out the AAA game…. then watch out.
Well you can never have too much pitching. Im going to hold off on any thoughts just because i dont feel there is going to be a normal 27 season. Maybe replacements but i wont be watching those.
Since his (Molina) call up to AAA he has stalled
Stalled to say the least. His control has always been shaky, and I think AAA hitters just try to wait him out. He either strikes them out or they get on base. He will have to come over the plate more and we will see what happens.
If there is a 2027 season it will be interesting to see what the FO does with the current rotation members along with those vying for a starting job. Leahy and Pallante have been very good for the most part, but Leahy is 29 and you may fetch a decent return for him. With Fitts, Mathews, and the return of Roby might make the Cards think about upgrading. And if we flash forward to mid 2027, Franklin, Cijntje, Doyle, and Molina could be ready. Liberatores rotation spot is very much in question going forward.
Also if there is a work stoppage at the MLB level that would thin the Memphis ranks of Roby, Fitts, and Mathews. Possibly Henderson if the there is a Rule 5 draft. It is interesting to ponder about the AAA rotation of Molina, Doyle, Cinjtje, Davis, etc.
Rotation and Bullpen by July 2027 (barring injuries or offseason acquisitions):
Matthews
McGreevey
Leahy
Pallante
FittsDobbins
Gastellum
Graceffo
Rajcic
O’Brien
Roby
Mautz
LiberatoreAlso on the bullpen shuttle:
Rincon
Winquest
Svanson
Henderson6/7/8 Starters:
Hjerpe
Cijntje
DoyleOther 3 Memphis Starters getting close:
Franklin
Fajardo
EaganThat should make for some interesting decisions around the trade deadline. It’s kind of like our position with catchers where we almost have to trade one . . . or two.
I think as each year goes by and we get a little further away from the roster demolition we will see more players come in from the outside. Not many but there will be some. We will use our farm a lot but when it comes time to really compete for a division title then we will have to get some help from the outside.
I still think the real push will come in 2028 but it would not surprise me to see more than a token contributor brought in for 2027. Maybe just another Dustin May type or perhaps a notch higher on the scale.
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