Cardinals' Dobbins Rehab: Back End Rotation Contender?

0:00It's April 2nd. This is MLB News today, powered by AI tracking teams, players, and standings. The St. Louis Cardinals kicked off the 2026 season with a tough call on their starting rotation, picking five pictures out of six, contenders. They went with Matthew Liberator, Michael McGreevy, Kyle Leehee, Dustin May, and Andre Palante, while sending Richard Fitz down to the minors. So far, Liberator, McGreevy, and Palante have been lights out early on, but Leehee and May have struggled to find their groove. That leaves room for fresh options, especially with Hunter Dobbins starting his minor league rehab assignment after tearing his ACL last year with the Boston Red Sucks. On March 31st, Dobbins took the mound for AAA Memphis, going five innings with three strikeouts, but giving up three earn runs, a solid. First step that shows he's not too far behind. Now the 30-day clock is ticking before the Cardinals decide whether to call him up or keep him in AAA, and if he recaptures his pre-injury.

1:02Form from that 4.13 ERA rookie year, he could slide right into the back end of the rotation.