Matthew Liberatore took the mound at Busch Stadium with a seemingly clear mission: keep the Cardinals in the game and help the team sustain its intense second-half push.
But things quickly went the other way.
In the loss to the Rockies, Liberatore lasted just five innings and surrendered five runs, suffering his ninth defeat of the season. His record fell to 5-9, while his ERA remained at a concerning level.
It wasn’t just the stat sheet that disappointed the Cardinals.
Liberatore had previously shown he was fully capable of becoming a reliable starter. In fact, earlier in the season, the team bestowed upon him the special honor of being the Opening Day starter. That decision reflected the coaching staff’s immense faith in the young pitcher’s potential.
Yet, just a few months later, the situation has become far more complicated.
From Opening Day starter to major question mark
When the Cardinals named Liberatore their Opening Day starter, he was just 26 years old but was already viewed as the most pivotal figure in the rotation following major upheavals within the team.
Liberatore had impressed mightily during Spring Training—allowing only one walk over 13⅓ innings—thereby convincing the coaching staff that he deserved the biggest responsibility.
That is precisely why his subsequent inconsistent performances have been so disappointing.
There were moments when Liberatore displayed his best form. One of the clearest examples came in July, when he pitched six scoreless innings against the Atlanta Braves, allowing just one walk and four hits in a 4-1 Cardinals victory.
In other words, the issue isn’t a lack of ability.
The problem is his inability to maintain that level of performance consistently.
The Rockies exploited a key weakness
Against Colorado, the Cardinals needed Liberatore to take control of the game early on. But the Rockies kept the pressure on, making the lefty pay for his mistakes.
Jake McCarthy became a true nightmare for the opposition.
The Colorado star had one of the season’s most memorable games, going 4-for-5 with two home runs, three RBIs, four runs scored, and two stolen bases. Notably, both of McCarthy’s home runs came on the very first pitch of the at-bat.
That kind of aggressive hitting leaves a pitcher with zero margin for error.
And Liberatore made far too many mistakes.
The Rockies didn’t just hit hard; they also applied pressure with their speed on the basepaths. Colorado kept the Cardinals’ defense on edge, while Liberatore failed to regain the stability that had previously allowed him to shut down potent lineups.
Will the Cardinals remain patient?
That is the biggest question.
The Cardinals have shown patience with Liberatore time and again. Even during his rough patches, the team sought ways to help him make adjustments rather than immediately removing him from the rotation.
But the pressure is mounting.
There has already been talk regarding the management of the Cardinals’ pitchers’ workloads, particularly as Liberatore approaches high inning totals. Some analysts have even questioned whether the team should consider moving him back to the bullpen instead of continuing to send him out for difficult starts.
However, the Cardinals lack quality alternatives.
That is precisely the problem.
If Liberatore were removed from the rotation, St. Louis would have to find another option despite a lack of pitching depth. Consequently, manager Oli Marmol faces a difficult decision.
A loss, but perhaps a wake-up call
The Cardinals still have something to play for. Heading into the series against the Rockies, St. Louis remained in contention and was not ready to give up hope on a deep postseason run. But games like this can serve as a turning point.
Liberatore was once handed the ball on Opening Day because the Cardinals believed he could be a key part of their future—a belief he had previously validated with outstanding performances.
Now, the question is no longer, “Does Liberatore have talent?”
The question is:
How much longer can the Cardinals wait for that talent to translate into consistency?
After the loss to the Rockies, that question has taken on greater urgency. And with the season entering a critical stretch, every disappointing start by Liberatore could further jeopardize his spot in the rotation.
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