Opening Day Notebook: A New Season Begins at Busch

The Cardinal Chronicle
Opening Day Notebook: A New Season Begins at Busch
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

Opening Day returns to Busch Stadium this afternoon, and with it comes the familiar rhythm of a long baseball season—gates opening at noon, the Budweiser Clydesdales stepping onto the field, and a ballpark once again filled with expectation.

For the Cardinals, 2026 begins not just with ceremony, but with opportunity.

Left-hander Matthew Liberatore gets the ball, fittingly against the organization that drafted him in the first round back in 2018. It’s a full-circle moment, and one that carries some weight. Liberatore has already shown what he can do against Tampa Bay, including an eight-inning, two-hit shutout performance in 2023 that remains one of the best outings of his young career. Today, he gets the stage.

Behind him, the Cardinals have set their first turn through the rotation: Michael McGreevy, Dustin May, Kyle Leahy, and Andre Pallante. It’s a group that reflects both transition and trust—arms that will be counted on not just to compete, but to stabilize a club still finding its footing.

There’s already movement on the roster.

Outfielder Lars Nootbaar has been placed on the 60-day injured list as he continues to recover from offseason heel surgery. The move opens the door for top prospect JJ Wetherholt, who is expected to step in immediately as the club’s everyday second baseman. It’s a significant moment for the organization’s top-ranked prospect—and a sign of where the Cardinals believe their future is headed.

On the pitching side, Hunter Dobbins begins the season on the 15-day injured list with a knee issue, thinning the club’s depth before a pitch has even been thrown.

Beyond the Major League roster, the system continues to shape the story.

Catcher Leonardo Bernal is drawing increasing attention inside the organization, with some evaluators believing he may already be moving ahead on the depth chart. If his development continues, he could factor into the long-term picture behind the plate sooner rather than later.

In the outfield, Nathan Church has earned his spot on the Opening Day roster and is expected to see time in left field. His bat remains a question, but his defense is not. Within the system, he has been regarded as one of the top defensive outfielders, and that alone gives him a path to playing time while the offense continues to develop.

There are new faces as well.

Right-hander Matt Pushard, selected in the Rule 5 Draft, is set to make his Major League debut this week. Armed with a mid-90s fastball and swing-and-miss secondary pitches, he represents the kind of upside gamble that can quietly pay dividends over the course of a season.

Opening Day always carries a sense of certainty—lineups are set, rotations are announced, and roles are defined.

But it never lasts long.

The season has a way of rewriting everything.

For now, though, the Cardinals take the field with a clean slate, a mix of youth and opportunity, and the understanding that what begins today will be shaped over the next six months, one game at a time.

 
The Cardinal Chronicle
Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future