Cardinals Considering Unorthodox Rotation to Kick Off 2026 Season

St. Louis has a deep pool of starting pitching options to choose from as they weigh a six-man rotation to start the year.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The St. Louis Cardinals are considering an unorthodox six-man starting rotation to begin the 2026 MLB season. The team has a deep pool of starting pitching options, including returning players like Michael McGreevy, Matthew Liberatore, Andre Pallante and Kyle Leahy, as well as offseason acquisitions Dustin May, Richard Fitts and Hunter Dobbins. The Cardinals are discussing the possibility of using a six-man rotation, which would allow them to keep their pitchers on a more regular schedule and potentially give spot starts to swingmen like Pallante.

Why it matters

Most MLB teams utilize a traditional five-man starting rotation, so the Cardinals would be bucking the trend by going with six starters. This unorthodox approach could help the team manage their deep pitching staff and keep their starters fresh, but it also carries some risks in terms of disrupting routines and reducing the number of starts each pitcher gets.

The details

The Cardinals' potential six-man rotation would likely include left-hander Matthew Liberatore, right-handers Dustin May, Michael McGreevy, Kyle Leahy, Andre Pallante, and Richard Fitts. The team is considering this approach after using a similar modified rotation in 2025 that included spot starts from swingman Steven Matz and McGreevy. Pallante or Fitts could handle the swingman role in 2026 if the Cardinals move forward with six starters.

  • The Cardinals rolled out a similar modified rotation in 2025.
  • The team is discussing the six-man rotation plan as spring training unfolds ahead of the 2026 season.

The players

Michael McGreevy

A returning starting pitcher option for the Cardinals.

Matthew Liberatore

A left-handed starting pitcher who is expected to be a lock for the Cardinals' rotation.

Andre Pallante

A right-handed pitcher who has experience in both the starting rotation and bullpen for the Cardinals.

Kyle Leahy

A returning Cardinals pitcher who was in the bullpen last year but has been stretched out as a starter this spring.

Dustin May

A right-handed starting pitcher the Cardinals signed in free agency this offseason.

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What they’re saying

“Rotation (6) — LHP Matthew Liberatore, RHP Dustin May, RHP Michael McGreevy, RHP Kyle Leahy, RHP Andre Pallante, and RHP Richard Fitts. There is still time for this to sort out and distill down to five, but the Cardinals are at least discussing a six-man rotation as the spring unfolds.”

— Derrick Goold, Cardinals insider (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

What’s next

The Cardinals will continue to evaluate their pitching options and rotation plans as spring training progresses, with a decision likely coming in the final weeks before Opening Day.

The takeaway

The Cardinals' willingness to consider an unorthodox six-man rotation highlights their depth of starting pitching options and desire to keep their staff fresh and productive throughout the long MLB season. While a six-man rotation is not the norm, it could be a strategic move that pays dividends for St. Louis in 2026.