JUPITER, Fla. -- Left-hander Matthew Liberatore has been named the Cardinals' Opening Day starter, manager Oliver Marmol announced to the team’s sideline reporter, Dani Wexelman, during Wednesday afternoon's broadcast of the club's matchup with the Astros.
The man affectionately known as “Libby” will get the start on March 26 at Busch Stadium against the Rays, the same team that selected him in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft. Two years later, the Rays traded Liberatore to St. Louis as part of the deal that sent outfielder Randy Arozarena to Tampa Bay.
Liberatore is only 26, but he suddenly became the top starter in the rotation after St. Louis traded Sonny Gray to the Red Sox for prospects and allowed Miles Mikolas to become a free agent this past offseason.
Being No. 1 isn’t in name only. Liberatore earned the spot by allowing only one free pass in 13 1/3 innings during the exhibition season (10 innings in three Grapefruit League starts and 3 1/3 innings in his start against Team Nicaragua, which doesn't count toward Spring Training stats). He said he learned to avoid walks after he was put in the bullpen in 2024.
“Ever since I was put in the 'pen, there is this heavy importance about needing to throw strikes right away,” Liberatore said recently. “It’s something that’s kind of stuck with me. If I can avoid that as much as possible, it just makes it that much easier.”
Fitts sent down
The Cardinals optioned right-hander Richard Fitts to Triple-A Memphis, which means the starting rotation is set with Liberatore, Kyle Leahy, Dustin May, Michael McGreevy and Andre Pallante.
Fitts, who was acquired by the Cardinals last November in the Gray trade, pitched three games, allowing six runs in 9 1/3 innings with nine strikeouts.
Fitts last pitched Sunday against the Nationals, throwing 4 2/3 innings and allowing two runs on one hit and three walks to go with five strikeouts in a 6-3 victory. Fitts had a rough second inning, as he threw 21 pitches and was responsible for two baserunners when he left the game in favor of right-hander Hunter Hayes, who allowed a three-run homer to Joey Wiemer. Fitts re-entered the game in the third and pitched three scoreless innings.