Cardinals Get Deflating Injury News on Hunter Dobbins

There isn't a team in baseball that has been better at managing the workload for its pitchers than the St. Louis Cardinals over the last few years.

St. Louis has made a specific effort to give each of its starters consistent time off between starts and has managed the schedule to a tee. So much so that the Cardinals really haven't dealt with many injuries in the rotation over the last two years.

That changed this week, though.

Over just the last few days, the Cardinals lost not only one starter, but two to the Injured List. Andre Pallante was the first to land on the Injured List due to right elbow inflammation. Fortunately for Pallante, it appears as though he will miss close to the minimum of 15 days.

Right now, Hunter Dobbins is more up in the air. He was forced to leave his start early on Friday and now is being placed on the 15-day Injured List due to right forearm tightness. In his place, the Cardinals have promoted young lefty Quinn Mathews.

The Cardinals' Rotation Is Thin

Aug 21, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Hunter Dobbins (40) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

"LHP Quinn Mathews has been recalled from Memphis (AAA)," the Cardinals announced. "RHP Hunter Dobbins has been placed on the 15-day IL (right forearm tightness)."

LHP Quinn Mathews has been recalled from Memphis (AAA).

RHP Hunter Dobbins has been placed on the 15-day IL (right forearm tightness). pic.twitter.com/9QxOSmezsh
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 22, 2026

Mathews being on the big league roster is very positive. He has made two starts in the majors and has a 3.00 ERA across nine innings of work. But, on the negative side, the Cardinals have now lost two starters. Mathews can only do so much to help St. Louis himself right now.

The Cardinals will need another starter up in the majors. Cooper Hjerpe arguably is someone to watch down the stretch. But the Cardinals are surprisingly thin right now on major league-ready rotation options, unless St. Louis wants to rush a top prospect to town, like Jurrangelo Cijntje.

The best-case scenario would be Dobbins just missing the minimum, like Pallante is expected to do. When one of them return, the Cardinals will have more wiggle room, thanks to Mathews being up in the majors. But, still, the rotation is thin.

There are a few veteran options available if the club wanted to make an addition, like Lance McCullers Jr. and Miles Mikolas. Cardinals fans certainly remember Mikolas. Of the two, McCullers would be a much better option if the Cardinals want to add.

St. Louis isn't in the best place right now in the rotation, to say the least.

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