Matthew

Liberatore

Only Mother Nature can keep rookie sensation Jac Caglianone from stepping onto a big-league diamond anymore. Both teams were going to have to endure several hours of waiting out rain showers before an extremely late start, so they’ve decided instead to play a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon. Wednesday’s original starting pitchers— Noah Cameron and Miles Mikolas — will presumably take the ball at some point during Thursday’s twin bill at Busch Stadium. Royals ace Cole Ragans (groin) will return from the injured list to start the nightcap affair against Cardinals lefty Matthew Liberatore.

For the first time in a long time, Liberatore ran into trouble during this start. The Rangers jumped on him for five runs through the first two innings and his command was off. His sliders didn’t have their usual bite and Josh Jung and Wyatt Langford turned around some cutters that got a hair too much of the plate. Still, he managed to settle down through the middle innings and saved his ratios a bit. He’s scheduled to face the Royals at home next time out.

A Randal Grichuk homer was the only damage. Liberatore was lifted with a 3-1 lead after 88 pitches, and many Cardinals fans were left screaming mad after the D-backs came back with four runs off the bullpen in the eighth. Of course, it might have happened anyway; in the three early games today, four of the five starting pitchers besides Liberatore (including Merrill Kelly in this contest) were charged with runs after being left in to start an inning and getting pulled with no outs recorded. Liberatore is 3-3 with a terrific 2.73 ERA through 10 starts. He’s set to pitch in Texas next time out.

Liberatore gave up six hits, walked one and struck out five. The 25-year-old left-hander has allowed two runs or less in his last seven starts. Liberatore’s 2.92 ERA is mostly supported by his 3.30 xFIP. He has a 47/8 K/BB ratio in 52 1/3 innings this year. Liberatore is lined up to face the Diamondbacks at home next weekend.

Liberatore gave up 11 hard-hit balls, but just one of those turned into an extra-base hit, and he also walked only one. We’re still skeptical that he’ll keep this up, but he’s been remarkably solid in amassing a 3.11 ERA in eight starts. He’ll face the Royals next.

The 25-year-old southpaw allowed just three hits and three walks on the evening. All of the damage that was done against him came on an RBI double off the bat of Ke’Bryan Hayes with two outs in the sixth inning. Aside from that, he was in complete command. Liberatore got a whopping 17 swings and misses on 99 pitches on the night — seven of those on his heater — while registering an elite CSW of 38 percent. He’ll look to keep the good times rolling as he carries a 3.07 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and a 38/6 K/BB ratio (41 innings) into Monday’s showdown against the Phillies in Philadelphia. It goes without saying, but if he’s hanging around on the waiver wire in any shallower formats, now is the time to rectify that.

Liberatore threw just 42 pitches before the 97-minute stoppage, so he could be brought back early if the Cardinals would like. They were planning on going to a six-man rotation, with Steven Matz starting again next week, but they have some options now.

Liberatore punched out four opposing hitters in the ballgame and didn’t allow a base on balls. The Brewers got to him for a run in the sixth inning on a two-out RBI single by Christian Yelich, then they scratched out an unearned run while chasing him in the seventh. The 25-year-old hurler got 10 whiffs on 89 pitches on the evening, posting a CSW of 29 percent. He’ll see if he can keep the good times rolling as he carries a stellar 3.19 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and a 28/2 K/BB ratio (31 innings) into Wednesday’s matchup against the Reds in Cincinnati.

Liberatore worked a pair of scoreless innings before the Mets got to him in the third, bringing two runs in on two doubles and a base hit. He then settled in for three more scoreless innings, leaving with two outs and one runner on in the seventh. He struck out six. The 25-year-old left-hander is enjoying a solid start to the season in the St. Louis rotation, posting a 3.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and a 24/2 K/BB ratio across 25 innings. Liberatore is in line to take on the Brewers in St. Louis next Saturday.

Liberatore showed his best velocity of the year today and wound up with seven strikeouts. The 28 sliders he threw produced 10 missed swings and two weakly hit balls, one of which was a bunt. His other pitches were hit harder, but he still yielded just three singles in moving to 1-1 with a 3.93 ERA. His next start is due to come against the Mets in New York.