Liberatore will start Tuesday's game against the Rangers, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
After the Cardinals announced they will be shifting to a five-man rotation instead of six, it was unclear whether Liberatore or Steven Matz would take the fifth spot. With the team confirming Liberatore as Tuesday's starter, it appears the 23-year-old lefty has the upper hand at the moment. However, a plan is in place to work Matz back into the rotation, so Liberatore is still at risk of losing his spot should his performance decline.
Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Role not yet determined
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The Cardinals will no longer use a six-man rotation, with the fifth spot coming down to Liberatore or Steven Matz, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
The Cards shifted to a six-man rotation during a stretch of 19 games in 19 days, but they have back-to-back off days this week which will allow them to restructure the rotation again. Matz will be available in relief Monday and Tuesday, with Liberatore's potential availability out of the bullpen yet to be determined. Things certainly appear to be pointing toward Matz being moved to the bullpen for a while and Liberatore getting the fifth spot, but the team has not yet committed to that setup.
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Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Tagged for four runs
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Liberatore (1-1) allowed four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two across five innings Friday in a 4-3 loss to the Guardians.
Liberatore faced little trouble through four scoreless innings before the Guardians broke through with a four-run fifth. His ERA jumped to 4.91 through three big-league appearances (two starts) this season. As of now, it's unclear if Liberatore will get another start or move into the bullpen. The Cardinals have just five games during the upcoming week, and the young southpaw would seem to be the most likely candidate in the rotation to miss a start. He posted an 11.0 K/9 with Triple-A Memphis but has struck out just nine batters in 11 MLB innings since his promotion.
Liberatore will start Friday against the Guardians at Progressive Field, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Though Liberatore made his last appearance out of the bullpen Sunday against the Dodgers, manager Oliver Marmol previously confirmed that the 23-year-old lefty would get another start during the team's weekend series in Cleveland. Liberatore now has a date set in place for his next turn, and he'll get the chance to build on a strong showing in his first start of the season versus Milwaukee on May 17, when he worked five scoreless innings and struck out six. If he's able to hold his own against Cleveland, Liberatore should have a good chance of sticking around with the big club as the sixth member of the rotation.
Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Will get weekend start
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Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Wednesday that Liberatore will start one of the team's three games this weekend in Cleveland, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
There was talk of Liberatore being used out of the bullpen Tuesday night against the Reds, but that wasn't required as St. Louis rolled to an 8-5 victory. The 23-year-old left-hander tallied six strikeouts over five scoreless innings in his first major-league start of the season last Wednesday against the Brewers before struggling in a relief appearance Sunday versus the Dodgers. He should be an attractive fantasy option as he returns to the Cardinals' rotation against a light-hitting Guardians team.
Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Available in relief Tuesday
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Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Liberatore will be available in relief Tuesday night at Cincinnati, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
It's a bit odd that the Cardinals haven't simply installed Liberatore into their regular rotation mix given how sharp he looked in his first MLB start of the season last week against the Brewers, but they are short on bullpen options following Monday's extra-innings loss to the Reds. Liberatore appeared in relief Sunday versus the Dodgers and gave up two earned runs over one inning of work. If he's not used again out of the bullpen, he should get a starting nod later this week in Cleveland.
Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Temporarily in bullpen
Rotowire
Liberatore will be available out of the bullpen against the Dodgers on Sunday but is still expected to start sometime next week if he isn't needed in relief, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Clear messaging hasn't been a strength of the Cardinals organization this season, and Liberatore's situation is the latest case. He impressed in the minors as well as in his season debut for the big-league club Wednesday against the Brewers, though it wasn't initially clear that he was up for anything more than a spot start. The Cardinals would have to go to a six-man rotation to fit him in permanently, and while manager Oliver Marmol confirmed Thursday that Liberatore would indeed remain a starter, that now seems to be less than a lock. Even if Liberatore does wind up pitching in relief Sunday and temporarily taking himself out of rotation consideration, however, he shouldn't have to wait too long to make his next start, as the Cardinals are seemingly impressed by his performance this season.
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Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Will remain in MLB rotation
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Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol confirmed Thursday that Liberatore will remain in the rotation, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Liberatore was terrific in his season debut with the Cardinals on Wednesday, tallying six strikeouts over five scoreless frames in a 3-0 win over the Brewers. The schedule, as currently sorted, calls for him to pitch early next week in a favorable matchup versus the Reds. The 23-year-old left-hander seems like a must-have in fantasy when you also factor in how well he was pitching at Triple-A Memphis prior to his promotion.
