Richard Dobbins, who is 3-0 with a 4.37 ERA in five starts with Triple-A Memphis this season, will make his first start for the Cardinals on Thursday in Pittsburgh. The club will use a six-man rotation during this stretch where it is playing 17 games in 17 consecutive days.
ST. LOUIS – After spending several days discussing ways to fortify their pitching staff during a stretch where they will play 17 games over a 17-day stretch, the Cardinals have formulated a plan for the coming days.
Manager Oliver Marmol confirmed following Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Mariners that the Cardinals would be promoting right-handed pitcher Hunter Dobbins on Thursday and shifting to a six-man rotation for the time being. The Dobbins promotion could be for a one-start audition – similar to how the Cardinals used Michael McGreevy in 2025 during stretches where the team was playing on several consecutive days.
Roundtable Sports reported last Wednesday that the Cardinals were discussing their options for the 17-day stretch, including the possibility of promoting the 26-year-old Dobbins from Triple-A Memphis. Marmol said late Sunday that Dobbins will start for the Cardinals on Thursday in the finale of a four-game series against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.
Dustin May (tonight), Kyle Leahy (Tuesday) and Andre Pallante (Wednesday) will pitch the first three games of the series against the Pirates at PNC Park.
By promoting Dobbins, the Cardinals will push struggling starter Matthew Liberatore back to Friday’s game against the Dodgers at Busch Stadium. The move will also provide another day of preparation and rest for McGreevy, who limited the Mariners to five hits and one earned run while striking out six over six innings of work.
Dobbins has recovered nicely from ACL injury
Dobbins, 26, was acquired by the Cardinals in December in the trade that was centered around first baseman Willson Contreras going to the Red Sox. While working his way back from an ACL tear in his right knee last July, Dobbins is 3-0 with a 4.37 ERA in five starts with Triple-A Memphis. In 22 2/3 innings of work this season, Dobbins has struck out 19 while allowing nine walks and three homers.
Dobbins will head to the big leagues after one of his worst starts of the season. On Saturday night against Norfolk, Dobbins hit a batter and walked five more over four innings of work. He also allowed four hits and three earned runs, while striking out three.
The Texas Tech product had a stellar 2025 MLB season ended when he tore the ACL in his right knee while covering first base for the Red Sox on July 11. Dobbins was 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA with the Red Sox when he suffered the knee injury that ended his promising rookie season. He underwent surgery a month later and worked throughout the winter and early this season to try and be ready for the first half of this season.
Dobbins made his MLB debut against the Cardinals in the first game of a doubleheader on April 6, 2025. He limited St. Louis to eight hits and two earned runs over five innings for his first MLB victory.
Join the conversation
Remember to join our CARDINALS on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other CARDINALS fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!