St. Louis Cardinals weigh rookie pitchers Quinn Mathews and Liam Doyle for the rotation

After the trade deadline, the St. Louis Cardinals reshuffled their pitching staff. Hunter Dobbins took the spot left by traded starter Dustin May, while Quinn Mathews, who debuted against the Toronto Blue Jays, was optioned back to Triple‑A Memphis to preserve his rookie status. The club hopes Mathews may earn another major‑league opportunity later in the season.

In the minors, top prospect Liam Doyle has emerged as a standout in Double‑A, posting a 1.88 ERA over his last six starts, striking out 36 batters in 28 2/3 innings and limiting opponents to a .198 batting average. Doyle, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, is being positioned as a potential future member of the Cardinals’ rotation.