A New Number, A New Arsenal, & A New Role

A New Number, Arsenal, & Role: Liberatore Takes the Hill
The Cardinal Chronicle 
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

Opening Day Belongs to Liberatore

Matthew Liberatore isn’t just getting the ball on Opening Day—he’s taking ownership of it.

The 26-year-old left-hander from Peoria, Arizona has earned the assignment, and the St. Louis Cardinals have made it official: Liberatore will start the home opener at Busch Stadium. It’s a moment that carries weight in this town, and for the first time in his career, he looks ready to carry it.

Originally selected 16th overall in the 2018 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, Liberatore entered professional baseball with expectations already attached. Tampa Bay doesn’t miss often when it comes to pitching, and they saw frontline potential early.

That belief followed him to St. Louis.

In January 2020, the Cardinals acquired Liberatore in a deal that sent Randy Arozarena to Tampa Bay—a trade that has been debated ever since. Arozarena became a postseason star, while Liberatore spent his early big-league career searching for consistency, moving between the rotation and bullpen.

Fair or not, the comparisons lingered.

This spring, Liberatore changed the conversation.

Over 18.1 innings, he delivered a dominant 24-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio, showing a level of command that had previously been inconsistent. His fastball sat comfortably at 94–95 mph, but more importantly, he pitched with purpose—working ahead, finishing hitters, and controlling the pace of the game.

In his final tune-up against the Mets, Liberatore threw five shutout innings, allowing just one hit while retiring 13 consecutive batters. It wasn’t just effective—it was convincing.

The biggest difference may be his expanded arsenal.

This spring, Liberatore introduced a splitter to neutralize right-handed hitters, a group that has given him trouble in the past. He also refined his changeup into a “kick-change,” blending movement profiles, while adding velocity to his cutter to attack early in counts.

The result is a seven-pitch mix—fastball, sinker, cutter, slider, curveball, changeup, and splitter—that keeps hitters from getting comfortable.

There’s also a quiet signal of intent. Liberatore switched from No. 52 to No. 32 this spring, honoring Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax. It’s more than a number—it’s a mindset.

Last season, Liberatore showed flashes, including an eight-start stretch where he allowed two runs or fewer from mid-April through late May. He finished with eight wins and a 4.21 ERA—solid, but not the profile of a traditional Opening Day starter.

This year is different.

The command is sharper. The confidence is visible. The approach is more mature. And for the first time, the opportunity feels earned—not given.

Opening Day starters don’t always come with the biggest résumé. Sometimes they’re the pitcher who’s ready when the moment arrives.

Right now, that pitcher is Matthew Liberatore.

And next Thursday at Busch Stadium, the moment belongs to him.