Matthew Liberatore
Bats: LThrows: LAge: 26Season: 2025
2025 Season Stats
ERA
4.15
W-L
8-12
IP
149.8
SO
122
WHIP
0.00
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29 articles
STL • Pitcher • #52
about 2 months ago
The Cardinals are having Liberatore finish on a high note after he defeated the Brewers on Sunday. Kyle Leahy could get a start in game 162, though that will depend on if he’s needed out of the bullpen first. Liberatore finishes up his first full season as a starter 8-12 with a 4.21 ERA and a 122/40 K/BB in 151 2/3 innings. That he made such big gains in lefty-righty matchups is encouraging, but as a flyball pitcher with a below average strikeout rate, his ceiling still seems rather low.
Source: Katie Woo
STL • Pitcher • #52
about 2 months ago
Liberatore took advantage of a Brewers sitting several regulars today and struck out six for just his second win since the beginning of July. He’s 8-12 with a 4.21 ERA with one start remaining. That’ll come against the Cubs next weekend.
STL • Pitcher • #52
2 months ago
Liberatore allowed four hits, walked one and struck out six while getting through six innings for the first time in 12 starts. A little recovery here in the second half of September could be the difference in whether or not he’s guaranteed a rotation spot entering spring training. He didn’t factor into the decision tonight, so he stays 7-12 with a 4.30 ERA. He’ll likely face the Brewers on Sunday.
STL • Pitcher • #52
2 months ago
Liberatore tossed two scoreless innings, then gave up a three-run homer to Randy Arozarena in the third inning. Josh Naylor then took him deep for a solo shot in the fourth. Liberatore gave up one more run in the frame on a walk, two hits, and a sacrifice fly. His day would be done after four innings. He stuck out just one. The 25-year-old left-hander will take a 4.35 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and a 110/38 K/BB ratio across 140 2/3 innings into a start against the Reds in St. Louis on Monday.
STL • Pitcher • #52
3 months ago
This was a roller coaster of a start for Liberatore. The Reds jumped on him for two runs in the first inning which included a home run by Noelvi Marte that bounced off the facing of the second deck. Then, he kept them off the board for the next four innings before Spencer Steer took him deep to start the sixth and he was pulled soon thereafter. Liberatore’s swing-and-miss stuff has completely evaporated over the last month, his velocity is trending downward, and he has a 4.94 ERA since the All-Star break. He’s sadly not the same pitcher that seemed like they were breaking out through the first few months of the season and is scheduled to face the Athletics at home next time out.
STL • Pitcher • #52
3 months ago
Liberatore’s only other start against the team that drafted him was probably the best of his career; he shut out the Rays for eight innings on August 10, 2023. This time, there was no such magic, and he dropped to 0-5 with a 5.82 ERA in eight starts since the beginning of July. If the Cardinals choose to stick with him, he’ll face the Reds next weekend.
STL • Pitcher • #52
3 months ago
Libertatore struck out five and only issued one walk. It was a solid bounce-back effort after giving up five runs over 6 1/3 frames his last time out against the lowly Pirates. He doesn’t offer elite strikeout upside, but Liberatore has been a solid back-end rotation option for fantasy purposes this season with a 4.13 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 93/29 K/BB ratio across 122 innings (23 starts). He’ll face the Rays on Sunday to close out a two-start week.
STL • Pitcher • #52
3 months ago
Liberatore was outdueled by Kyle Freeland. In this case it was actually more compliment to Freeland than insult to Liberatore, but the latter certainly didn’t pitch terribly effectively with four hits allowed including a two-run homer by Hunter Goodman. Liberatore is just not an effective streamer at this stage, and there’s just as much risk as reward when he faces the Marlins next week.
STL • Pitcher • #52
4 months ago
This could have been a lot worse. With his fastball velocity down two mph from his season average, Liberatore generated just one strikeout and two missed swings in the 72-pitch outing. He gave up six hits, including a two-run homer to Shohei Ohtani. Liberatore hasn’t completed five innings in any of his last four starts, and he hasn’t won since June 29. The Cardinals might need to shift him back to the pen soon. However, he does have a bounce-back opportunity coming up at home next week against the Rockies.
STL • Pitcher • #52
4 months ago
Liberatore was far from perfect, but he deserved better. A costly error by Willson Contreras scored a run and kept the fifth inning alive to cause three unearned runs to score. That being said, he also struck out just one batter and issued two walks while allowing four hits, so it is not just on the defense. Liberatore should absolutely not be trusted for a variety of reasons next week for his scheduled start against the Dodgers.
STL • Pitcher • #52
4 months ago
It was Liberatore’s first start since July 11, and while he picked up the loss, that has more to do with lack of run support than ineffective pitching. A Victor Scott error that allowed a run to score didn’t help, either. Liberatore walked two and struck out three, and saw his ERA drop to 4.04 while throwing 49-of-77 pitches for strikes. He’s lineup to start again Friday in a rematch with the Padres.
STL • Pitcher • #52
4 months ago
Liberatore will take the ball on Saturday night against San Diego for his first start since July 11. The 25-year-old righty had his first outing after the All-Star break skipped in an effort to manage his workload heading into the home stretch. He’s emerged as a full-fledged mid-rotation stabilizer this season, compiling a respectable 4.13 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 80/22 K/BB ratio across 100 1/3 innings (18 starts) after mostly pitching in relief the past two years.
Source: MLB.com
STL • Pitcher • #52
4 months ago
It’s a welcome development for fantasy managers as Liberatore will sidestep an awful matchup at Coors Field. However, it does eliminate a potential two-start week. The positive news here is that Liberatore is completely healthy. St. Louis is going to give him some extra rest in an effort to manage his workload since he’s already eclipsed his previous career-high mark for innings pitched in the big leagues with two months left in the season. It’ll be Michael McGreevy coming up to make a spot start on Monday against Colorado.
Source: Katie Woo
STL • Pitcher • #52
4 months ago
Liberatore gave up nine hits, walked one and struck out none. The 25-year-old left-hander had allowed six runs in his last four starts (24 innings) combined. Liberatore will take a 4.13 ERA and 80/22 K/BB ratio in 100 1/3 innings into the All-Star break.
STL • Pitcher • #52
5 months ago
Liberatore walked four, but he mostly got away with it, as just two of the 15 balls in play against him were hard-hit. One of those was a wind-aided homer from Michael Busch. Liberatore has allowed a total of six runs over his last four starts, lowering his ERA from 4.17 to 3.70. He’ll likely face the Braves on Friday.
STL • Pitcher • #52
5 months ago
Liberatore walked five today, but he was facing a team that just isn’t hitting at the moment. The Guardians had three hard-hit balls (all against Liberatore) today, two of which were routine flies from José Ramírez. JoJo Romero, Riley O’Brien and John King each pitched hitless innings afterwards to complete the shutout. Liberatore improved to 6-6 with a 3.70 ERA. He’ll pitch in Wrigley against the Cubs next weekend.
STL • Pitcher • #52
5 months ago
Liberatore threw just 85 pitches to get 21 outs. Interestingly, the spin rates on all his pitches tonight were 100-160 rpms better than his season averages. His fastball was up most of all, averaging 2,242 rpms versus a season mark of 2,083. Whatever he was doing differently, we hope it sticks. He’s due to face the Guardians on Sunday.
STL • Pitcher • #52
5 months ago
It snaps a three-start losing skid. Liberatore allowed five hits, walked none and struck out four, which sounds pretty good. Of course, he was facing a bottom-five offense, and his 86 pitches produced just four missed swings and 11 hard-hit balls. Liberatore should be avoided in mixed leagues for now. He’ll pitch at home against the Reds next.
STL • Pitcher • #52
5 months ago
The good news is that Liberatore’s fastball was all of the way back today after he left his previous start with “fatigue” amid a velocity drop. Still, it was another mediocre outing for the left-hander, who was stuck facing nothing except for righties and switch-hitters today, He’s given up 14 earned runs over 14 innings in his last three starts, taking his ERA from 2.73 to 3.93. He gets the White Sox next, so that should help.
STL • Pitcher • #52
6 months ago
The 25-year-old hurler had allowed six runs on eight hits and a walk in his four-plus frames before departing with a trainer in the fifth inning. His velocity and spin rate were both down on Thursday, which may have sparked concern and been part of the reason for his removal. Manager Oliver Marmol said there was “no injury, no pain” after the game, so we’d tentatively expect Liberatore to make his next scheduled start against the Blue Jays.
Source: Matt Pauley
STL • Pitcher • #52
6 months ago
The 25-year-old hurler had allowed six runs on eight hits and a walk in his four-plus frames before departing with a trainer in the fifth inning. His velocity and spin rate were both down on Thursday, which may have sparked concern and been part of the reason for his removal. Look for the Cardinals to provide an update on his status as soon as more information becomes available.
Source: Matt Pauley
STL • Pitcher • #52
6 months ago
For the first time in a long time, Liberatore ran into trouble during this start. The Rangers jumped on him for five runs through the first two innings and his command was off. His sliders didn’t have their usual bite and Josh Jung and Wyatt Langford turned around some cutters that got a hair too much of the plate. Still, he managed to settle down through the middle innings and saved his ratios a bit. He’s scheduled to face the Royals at home next time out.
STL • Pitcher • #52
6 months ago
A Randal Grichuk homer was the only damage. Liberatore was lifted with a 3-1 lead after 88 pitches, and many Cardinals fans were left screaming mad after the D-backs came back with four runs off the bullpen in the eighth. Of course, it might have happened anyway; in the three early games today, four of the five starting pitchers besides Liberatore (including Merrill Kelly in this contest) were charged with runs after being left in to start an inning and getting pulled with no outs recorded. Liberatore is 3-3 with a terrific 2.73 ERA through 10 starts. He’s set to pitch in Texas next time out.
STL • Pitcher • #52
6 months ago
Liberatore gave up six hits, walked one and struck out five. The 25-year-old left-hander has allowed two runs or less in his last seven starts. Liberatore’s 2.92 ERA is mostly supported by his 3.30 xFIP. He has a 47/8 K/BB ratio in 52 1/3 innings this year. Liberatore is lined up to face the Diamondbacks at home next weekend.
STL • Pitcher • #52
7 months ago
The 25-year-old southpaw allowed just three hits and three walks on the evening. All of the damage that was done against him came on an RBI double off the bat of Ke’Bryan Hayes with two outs in the sixth inning. Aside from that, he was in complete command. Liberatore got a whopping 17 swings and misses on 99 pitches on the night — seven of those on his heater — while registering an elite CSW of 38 percent. He’ll look to keep the good times rolling as he carries a 3.07 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and a 38/6 K/BB ratio (41 innings) into Monday’s showdown against the Phillies in Philadelphia. It goes without saying, but if he’s hanging around on the waiver wire in any shallower formats, now is the time to rectify that.
STL • Pitcher • #52
7 months ago
Liberatore threw just 42 pitches before the 97-minute stoppage, so he could be brought back early if the Cardinals would like. They were planning on going to a six-man rotation, with Steven Matz starting again next week, but they have some options now.
STL • Pitcher • #52
7 months ago
Liberatore punched out four opposing hitters in the ballgame and didn’t allow a base on balls. The Brewers got to him for a run in the sixth inning on a two-out RBI single by Christian Yelich, then they scratched out an unearned run while chasing him in the seventh. The 25-year-old hurler got 10 whiffs on 89 pitches on the evening, posting a CSW of 29 percent. He’ll see if he can keep the good times rolling as he carries a stellar 3.19 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and a 28/2 K/BB ratio (31 innings) into Wednesday’s matchup against the Reds in Cincinnati.
STL • Pitcher • #52
7 months ago
Liberatore worked a pair of scoreless innings before the Mets got to him in the third, bringing two runs in on two doubles and a base hit. He then settled in for three more scoreless innings, leaving with two outs and one runner on in the seventh. He struck out six. The 25-year-old left-hander is enjoying a solid start to the season in the St. Louis rotation, posting a 3.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and a 24/2 K/BB ratio across 25 innings. Liberatore is in line to take on the Brewers in St. Louis next Saturday.
STL • Pitcher • #52
7 months ago
Liberatore showed his best velocity of the year today and wound up with seven strikeouts. The 28 sliders he threw produced 10 missed swings and two weakly hit balls, one of which was a bunt. His other pitches were hit harder, but he still yielded just three singles in moving to 1-1 with a 3.93 ERA. His next start is due to come against the Mets in New York.