St. Louis Cardinals lean on homegrown pitchers as rotation shines

The St. Louis Cardinals are in the midst of a full rebuild and have turned to their own farm system to staff the starting rotation. Three pitchers drafted and developed by the club – right‑handers Michael McGreevy, Andre Pallante and Kyle Leahy – have become regular starters in 2026. McGreevy boasts a 3.07 ERA over 20 starts, Pallante a 3.77 ERA with an 11‑6 record, and Leahy is also contributing solid performances.

With the team hovering at 52‑51 and sitting more than two games out of the wild‑card spot, the Cardinals are also weighing a promotion for left‑handed prospect Quinn Matthews. The 25‑year‑old has excelled in Triple‑A Memphis, posting a 1.59 ERA over his last ten starts, a 3.13 ERA overall, and 111 strikeouts in 19 outings, making him a strong candidate to reinforce the rotation before the trade deadline.