Matthew

Liberatore

Liberatore qualified for arbitration as a Super Two player. The 26-year-old came in at 8-12 with a 4.21 ERA in his first full season as a starter last year, and the Cardinals should be happy if he’s about as effective this year. He needs to up his 19% strikeout rate if he going to fare much better.

The Cardinals are having Liberatore finish on a high note after he defeated the Brewers on Sunday. Kyle Leahy could get a start in game 162, though that will depend on if he’s needed out of the bullpen first. Liberatore finishes up his first full season as a starter 8-12 with a 4.21 ERA and a 122/40 K/BB in 151 2/3 innings. That he made such big gains in lefty-righty matchups is encouraging, but as a flyball pitcher with a below average strikeout rate, his ceiling still seems rather low.

Liberatore took advantage of a Brewers sitting several regulars today and struck out six for just his second win since the beginning of July. He’s 8-12 with a 4.21 ERA with one start remaining. That’ll come against the Cubs next weekend.

Liberatore allowed four hits, walked one and struck out six while getting through six innings for the first time in 12 starts. A little recovery here in the second half of September could be the difference in whether or not he’s guaranteed a rotation spot entering spring training. He didn’t factor into the decision tonight, so he stays 7-12 with a 4.30 ERA. He’ll likely face the Brewers on Sunday.

Liberatore tossed two scoreless innings, then gave up a three-run homer to Randy Arozarena in the third inning. Josh Naylor then took him deep for a solo shot in the fourth. Liberatore gave up one more run in the frame on a walk, two hits, and a sacrifice fly. His day would be done after four innings. He stuck out just one. The 25-year-old left-hander will take a 4.35 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and a 110/38 K/BB ratio across 140 2/3 innings into a start against the Reds in St. Louis on Monday.

This was a roller coaster of a start for Liberatore. The Reds jumped on him for two runs in the first inning which included a home run by Noelvi Marte that bounced off the facing of the second deck. Then, he kept them off the board for the next four innings before Spencer Steer took him deep to start the sixth and he was pulled soon thereafter. Liberatore’s swing-and-miss stuff has completely evaporated over the last month, his velocity is trending downward, and he has a 4.94 ERA since the All-Star break. He’s sadly not the same pitcher that seemed like they were breaking out through the first few months of the season and is scheduled to face the Athletics at home next time out.

Liberatore’s only other start against the team that drafted him was probably the best of his career; he shut out the Rays for eight innings on August 10, 2023. This time, there was no such magic, and he dropped to 0-5 with a 5.82 ERA in eight starts since the beginning of July. If the Cardinals choose to stick with him, he’ll face the Reds next weekend.

Libertatore struck out five and only issued one walk. It was a solid bounce-back effort after giving up five runs over 6 1/3 frames his last time out against the lowly Pirates. He doesn’t offer elite strikeout upside, but Liberatore has been a solid back-end rotation option for fantasy purposes this season with a 4.13 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 93/29 K/BB ratio across 122 innings (23 starts). He’ll face the Rays on Sunday to close out a two-start week.

Liberatore was outdueled by Kyle Freeland. In this case it was actually more compliment to Freeland than insult to Liberatore, but the latter certainly didn’t pitch terribly effectively with four hits allowed including a two-run homer by Hunter Goodman. Liberatore is just not an effective streamer at this stage, and there’s just as much risk as reward when he faces the Marlins next week.

This could have been a lot worse. With his fastball velocity down two mph from his season average, Liberatore generated just one strikeout and two missed swings in the 72-pitch outing. He gave up six hits, including a two-run homer to Shohei Ohtani. Liberatore hasn’t completed five innings in any of his last four starts, and he hasn’t won since June 29. The Cardinals might need to shift him back to the pen soon. However, he does have a bounce-back opportunity coming up at home next week against the Rockies.