ST. LOUIS – With the Cardinals about to start one of their most grueling stretches of the season – 17 games in 17 days against the likes of the Mariners, Pirates, Dodgers, Brewers and Padres – could the club be poised to promote prized right-hander Hunter Dobbins and go to a six-man starting rotation for the next few weeks?

With that tough stretch looming, Cardinals’ manager Oliver Marmol took the proactive steps of resting Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson and Masyn Winn on Wednesday in Miami. The get-away-day lineup showed as the Cards were mostly punchless in a 4-1 loss that allowed the Marlins to win the three-game series, 2-1.

Following Thursday’s day off before hosting three-games against the Mariners, the Cardinals won’t have another day off until May 11 – and it will come on the West Coast between road series against the Padres and Athletics.

That tiring stretch could prompt Marmol and pitching coach Dusty Blake to push for the promotion of Dobbins and the conversion to a six-man rotation that will allow for starters to get an additional day of rest during the tough stretch.

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. Dobbins, a 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. The eighth-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft has been working all winter and early this season to recover from the injury.

Dobbins made his MLB debut against the Cardinals in the second game of a doubleheader on April 6, 2025, and limited St. Louis to eight hits and two earned runs over five innings for the victory.

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 to try and be ready for the first half of this season.

In four rehab starts with Triple-A Memphis, Dobbins has gone 3-0 with a 3.86 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings of work. His best two outings came on April 7 in Charlotte (5.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 7 K) and April 14 against Gwinnett (5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 4 K). Like in his 2025 run with the Red Sox, when he allowed six homers, long balls have been an issue again in 2026. He has allowed three homers in his four outings with Memphi

If not for a season-ending injury, another newcomer from the Red Sox – right-hander Richard Fitts – could be in line for the promotion expected to go to Dobbins. Fitts, who was acquired in the deal with the Red Sox that centered around Sonny Gray going from St. Louis to Boston, was 2-0 with a 1.76 ERA in his first three starts with Triple-A Memphis. However, damaged a lat on April 9 and underwent season-ending surgery last week.

If promoted, Dobbins would join lefty Matthew Liberatore (0-1, 3.67 ERA), Michael McGreevy (1-2, 3.29 ERA), Dustin May (3-2, 5.84 ERA), Andre Pallante (2-1, 4.05 ERA) and Kyle Leahy (2-3, 5.63 ERA) in the rotation.

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