SPORTZONE27

The St. Louis Cardinals have officially set their opening day roster, with some notable decisions on the pitching staff. Matthew Liberatore secured the fifth spot in the starting rotation, while top prospect Michael McGreevy was left off the roster despite an impressive spring. Manager Oliver Marmol and his staff faced tough choices but announced plans to shift to a six-man rotation by April 16. For now, the starting rotation includes Sonny Gray, Erick Fedde, Miles Mikolas, Andre Pallante, and Liberatore, with Steven Matz serving as a long reliever until he joins the rotation.

Kyle Leahy and Chris Roycroft, who both stood out during spring training, will begin the season in Triple-A Memphis alongside McGreevy. Liberatore, 25, is getting another shot as a starter after primarily working as a reliever in 2024. However, with a spring high of just 71 pitches, he may need time to build up his pitch count.

Meanwhile, McGreevy, 24, delivered an outstanding spring performance. Over 16.2 innings in five appearances, he posted a 1.08 ERA, a 0.60 WHIP, and recorded 12 strikeouts while allowing just two runs. Despite missing the initial roster, his strong showing could lead to a call-up soon, especially given the uncertainties in the Cardinals’ pitching staff.

The Cardinals will kick off the season on Thursday afternoon at Busch Stadium, with Sonny Gray taking the mound. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. ET.