ROTATION READY: Quinn Mathews Has SOLIDIFIED His Place in St. Louis Cardinals’ 2027 Rotation

0:00This is the Lockdown podcast network celebrating 10 years of your team every day. Quinn Matthews continues to impress and is proving that he should have a spot at the rotation in 2027 despite taking the loss on Tuesday. This is Lockdown Cardinals. You are Lockdown Cardinals. Your daily St. Louis Cardinals podcast, part of the Lockdown podcast network. Your team every day. Hey there, Cardinals fans. I'm JD Halford and today's episode is brought to you by Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, use the code Lockdown for $20 off your first purchase. Today's show, another phenomenal pitching performance by one of the Cardinals stop pitching prospects for Springfield. We got a big offensive night for a former first round pick with the Memphis Redbirds. It's all about the future, right?

1:00It's all about the future for the Cardinals. On Tuesday night in San Francisco, one of the guys who appears to have a bright future as a member of this organization and this rotation was on the map. And that was the left-hander Quinn Matthews. Now the struggles from Matthews last year kind of overshadowed how good he was in 2024 and then the slow start to the season made some wonder if maybe 2024 was a mirage and that wasn't really who he was. Well, I'm happy to report that the future of Quinn Matthews looks on course and it looks quite strong. After he twirled another solid start versus the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night. Six innings. He'll last two runs on five hits. He walks to you. He strikes out four. The other number that stands out to you about this one are the two solo home runs, right? Those aren't positive things. One of the first, one of the second inning, but that's all they got off them. And when we talk about giving up home runs, you always hear the saying like, you can live

2:03giving up solo home runs. Now you can't give up a bunch of them, obviously. But a couple shouldn't kill you. It shouldn't doom you. Shouldn't torpedo the game. The first one came after Quinn breeze through the first two hitters on just seven pitches off to a hot start. Raphael Devers as the second batter of the game and you're like, all right, here we go. Solve a damage he did on Monday night, but goes to a two to count. Honestly, it wasn't even really a bad pitch that he throws here to Bryce Eldridge in hindsight. Sure. Yeah, you would like to get the ball up even more to see if you can get Eldridge to chase it even higher. The ball was up. The ball was out of the zone. Just not high enough and far enough out of the zone and Eldridge was able to get the barrel onto it. Smashes it to left field for an op otaku shot. And I tell you what, man, this, this Eldridge guy, what a specimen. I mean, he is impressive up there at the play. And it's hard to believe he's only 21 years old.

3:05Looks like he's a 28 year old man, 21 years old and he's massive six foot seven, 251 pounds. And so far, I haven't seen a lot of holes in the swing that he's got. He and Rafael Devers did a lot of damage on Monday and here he was doing it again in the first inning on Tuesday. And then the inning really got extended. You know, you get that real quick first two outs and then you got Eldridge and then it's a seven pitch walk and then it's a double before getting the fly out to end it. So we went from seven pitches and two outs to 25 pitches down one to nothing to get out of the first inning. So you kind of were wondering how far Quinn Matthews would make it in this particular game just because you're like, okay, pitch count kind of kind of skyrocketed there in the first inning. Second inning, once again, he gets the first two outs, falls behind two, loaded Christian costs and pipes one that costs ends over the boards and left field to make it two to nothing. He's your number nine hitter. You can't pitch scared to the number nine hitter.

4:06You don't want to walk him, obviously, and bring up the top of the order. So I get it that you're going to challenge him and cost burned him. That's all it really was. But after that, Quinn Matthews held the Giants in check. He allows a couple of singles with two outs in the fourth inning. He walks Eldridge in the fifth inning. But that was it. A really weird stat here was that all five hits in this game against Matthews actually came with two outs. But once again, credit to him for getting through six innings after that really long first inning. It's the first quality start of his MLB career. He's now allowed two runs or less in five of his first six major league starts. The only blemish is that game in Philadelphia where things got really ugly quick, but then he settled then and was able to get you through five innings. And he's looked really, really good ever since. And when you think about what lies ahead for this seat, you know, and I'm talking about not the rest of the season, but 2027, 2028 more specifically 2027.

5:11So let's just let's just pretend we're going to have a season next year and everything's going to be fine. I don't know how you don't pencil in Quinn Matthews as a member of the rotation. You know, I don't know how or what he would have to do. Outside of an injury to ruin having a spot in the rotation next year. He's what you wish. Matthew Libertor would be more like. You know, like we see these flashes of Libby and you're like, all right, good. We got a lefty that's got some swing and miss. And then you see the meltdown ending from Libby and it all goes away. It's all ruined. And here's Matthews who. Outside of that Philly game hasn't allowed the beginning. He pitches around trouble. He gets out of things. So when you look at the rotation for next year. pencil in Quinn Matthews, Cal A. He obviously who has had a breakout season. Michael McGreeby.

6:13No need to move on from him for any reason. Andre Palante, another breakout season for Andre this year. And he'll get to start later on this afternoon. And then I personally, I'm giving Matthew Libertor another crack at it. Like I'm not saying, no, you're done. I'm going to give him another crack at it, just like you did with Andre Palante. I'm going to let him come to spring training and compete for a spot. And if he wins it, so be it. If he loses it, hello, welcome to the ball pin. Because we've seen him succeed there. And you got to find a spot for Libby to be a positive part of this team. And if it's the ball pin, then so be it. You're hoping also that you get guys like Richard Fitzback to coerobi back. Both of them miss the whole season because of injuries. Get them healthy. Great. Cooper Jersey, who had that incredible debut in Colorado. Is he a part of the rotation or is he somebody you're thinking about, bullpen? I don't know.

7:14I don't know what they want to do. Maybe Jersey and Libby are competing for a spot in the rotation next year. And whoever loses goes to the pet. Why not? That's kind of what it spring training is supposed to be for is competition. For spots like that, right? Bryce and Mott's another lefty. Someone you can look at as well. Is he a long guy from the bullpen? Is he somebody that you can use as a starter? But you want to keep him in the bullpen? There you go. These are all great options. And the cool thing about it is like listen to all this depth when you're healthy. You got to make sure you keep these guys healthy. That's the hard part, right? And those who don't make it, you can go back to Memphis. As depth or like I said, they help out in the bullpen. So it's a bright, positive thing to have all these guys. You'd also like to think that the team may be interested in bringing in another veteran free agent, similarly the way they did with Dustin May this year. How can you bring back Dustin May if you want to? Odds are, he's going to be a free agent.

8:17The one injury that is a real bummer right now that stinks is the 100-Oven's injury because he would have been right there in the mix as well for a spot in this rotation. So you got some depth and Quinn Matthews has certainly done his part to earn a spot next season. So I'm sure he's going to get a nice long look when we get to spring training next year if we have one. After Matthews left the final two innings recovered by Gordon Grasepho who continues to be very impressive. Now he did get into that bases loaded. Nobody out situation in the seventh, but he strikes out both Devers and Eldridge. Huge, right? Before getting junk who leads you line out center field to end it pulls off the Houdini bases load and nobody out gets out of the ending without allowing any runs to score. Finishes his line with two innings, no runs, one hit, one walk, two case, ERA down to 2.7 O for Gordon Grasepho. Guy has given up a run in his last seven appearances and in his last four games he's thrown 10 scoreless innings with 15 strikeouts. Dude has been a real weapon for Olly this season.

9:19How about that? There's another name. Would you entertain the idea of moving Gordon Grasepho to the rotation next year or the Eliva? You know, Libby was nice in the ball pin. Found a lot of success. They moved him up to see if he could be something more in the rotation. Kyle A. He, very nice piece in the ball pin. They moved him up. He's going to Grasepho. Somebody that they're going to try to tinker with a little bit there too. We'll see. Or what if you have Grasepho and Libby as your long guys in the ball pin next year. So you got one righty. You got one lefty. I don't know. I'm just spit ballin. Think about things for next year. Options. Anyways, bottom line was pitching was good last night. Hitting was bad. The hitting was bad. Doesn't happen often, but the Cardinals offense just could not get anything going. They only scrape across one run on five fits in the game. We're going to talk about the offense or lack thereof. Plus we'll give you three stars of the game coming up next on locked on cards.

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13:29Thanks for making a lot of cartels. First listen of the day. Thank you for making a lot on the number one sports podcast network. Now Monday it was Logan Webb who had the offense stymied until he got out of the game. On Tuesday, it was Landon Rube who does not have the res of May of Logan Webb. So it's a lot tougher to watch the cartels struggle at the plate when you're facing a Landon Rube. Who I know has had some pretty decent games this year. I'm pretty sure I had them on my fantasy team at one time. He was kind of hot early on in the season. But watching him just spending breaking balls up there and having the cartenels pound them into the ground over and over and over. Really, really annoying to watch last night. It must be what it's like for opponents to face like Andre Palante when he's having a really good game where it doesn't look like it's supposed to be somebody who's going to

14:32dominate you. Not an intimidating guy on the mound by any means. Not a strong resume yet. He's he's killing you. And you just cannot seem to get the ball in the air and you can't seem to get the ball through the infield. The cartels often manage just two hits against Rube who got 11 of his 15 outs on the ground. The cartels would make 18 ground ball outs in this game like they were wearing out that grassy area in front of the in front of the plate. Like it seemed like every at that where there was even a morsel of a chance of something big happening. Oh, straight into the ground. Ground ball. And they had lots of chance. They really did. They lay over and all walked to lead off the second inning, but got erased on a double play off the bat of Thomas Jacy, who's been red hot. So okay. Third inning. Two walks in a single to load them up for Jordan Walker. He grounds out to end the threat was not a good night for Jordan Walker. The play, by the way, six inning. Ivan Herrera reaches on an error to start the inning early walks.

15:36Jordan Walker up again. Like I said, really tough night to dish for big number 18 and it happens. This evident incredible season all star campaign. People go cold and unfortunately Jordan Walker did not have a good game because if he gets even one possible even two hits in this game in these situation, the cartels, they're winning this game. They are. But it just didn't happen. Eight inning, you get a lead off walk to Brian Torres. Herrera grounds into the field. There's choice early walks again had three of those on the night. Things up Jordan Walker. This time he doesn't hit on the ground, but he flies out. Bernal strikes out, but the pitch gets away. So he ends up reaching base. He got the bases loaded to down for Joshua Baez who ends up flying out the centerfield. Ninth inning. You get the two-hour rally with signals by church and Torres to cut the lead to two to one. And then he gets the pitch runs for Torres gets to steal this time.

16:39I don't know why I root for Victor as much as I do. I love Victor. I want him to be good so bad. And I know the numbers show that he's not. I get it. I know. I know. It's my problem. I understand that. But like I said in the game on Monday, you know, you got to give a guy a chance to run. He gets chance to run. He steals second base and gets into scoring position for you. He's going to run in scoring position. But there's two out. And Iván Herrera, I guess what he did. He growled it out. Grounds out weekly to shortstop to end it. 18. Ground ball outs in this game. 29 of them. And the first two games combined. Cardinals are just not getting the ball in the air much. And they're hammering it on the ground and the giants are making the place. The team finished one for nine with runners in scoring position on Tuesday. They lead 10 men on base. Not of those were by Jordan Walker. There was just a really rough night for my guy. Not a normal thing for this offense. You know, it happens from time to time.

17:39You're going to go cold. You're going to go cold. Tough time of the year to go cold though, right? But I mean, you get any sort of offense in this game. You're winning this game. The giants didn't do anything special on Tuesday night. It really wasn't. Besides that, you know, giving up the hits, but it wasn't like. They were doing things that were like making it miserable for the Cardinals. Just couldn't come up with a big hit. They kept pitching around burly again, three walks to get to Walker. And it worked out all three times that they did it. Just couldn't get the big hit when they wanted it. Lay over at all seasons seven game, heading streak snap. Mason, when did return to the lineup that he was over for? Just a tough night. That's the theme of this podcast for the offense. Tough night, man. Tough night for the bats. What else can you say? Three stars of the game. Let's go with burly at number three in this one. Three walks also had a single in the first inning. And I got this awesome picture of him in his long, moppy hair.

18:42So yeah, like he had really good bats and wasn't chasing, which you'd love to see. And normally that works out wonderfully for the Cardinals, because Jordan Walker is going to eventually come through in the clutch, just didn't happen on Tuesday. And he runs scoring, which was insane when you got Deverage and Eldridge coming up. Also got two more shut out innings in total. So he continues to be something special out of the bullpen for Ali Marmel. And then you're never one star of the game. We're going to quit Matthews. Tough, tough, tough loss. Two solo shots, which you normally can live with. Go six innings for the first time in his career at the Major League level. He's been a lot of fun to watch. You know, he's got, he's also, they mentioned this a bunch in the telecast last night too, his pace on the mound. Get it, sign bang gone. He's not screwing around on the mound.

19:43He's not picking up the rods and bags. He's not wasting time. Oh man, he's on the attack the entire time. And when you're locked in, whatever sport you're playing, but specifically when you're a pitcher in baseball, when you're locked in and things are going well, you're just, you're not even thinking about the rest of that stuff. Like you just get the ball, get it set and you go, oh, here we go. And you're off. And that's where Quinn Mathews is right now. Looks very comfortable on the mound. And I've just been very impressed with him so far. So keep it up. Keep it up. We head to the minors next where Springfield's game featured another outstanding pitching performance by somebody that the Cardinals got at the atrade deadline. And Memphis had a lot of offensive fireworks. Former first round pick had a big night. We'll get to all of that coming up next on Lockdown Cardinals. Support for today's episode comes from indeed sponsored jobs

20:43when workplace chaos hits and you need the right hire indeed sponsored jobs helps connect employers with candidates who match specific needs like skills, certifications and locations. So less time gets spent searching and more time gets fit, I spent finding the right fit for whatever job you're looking for. Now people are finding quality hires on indeed right now. In the minute I've been talking to you, companies like yours have made 27 hires on indeed according to indeed data worldwide. One great addition can have a ripple effect on everyone around them. When you find someone who brings the right skills, attitude and experience, it makes the entire group better. We've seen that with JJ Weatherhold this year. We've seen it with recently layover and all and Joshua Bias. They have fit in seamlessly with what the Cardinals are trying to do this year. Quinn Matthews now. So that's why finding qualified candidates matters so much and why tools like indeed sponsored jobs can help make that process easier. Brings in the right people for what you need. Spend the last time searching more time actually interviewing candidates who check all your boxes less stress less time.

21:44More results when you need the right person to cut through the chaos. This is a job for indeed sponsored jobs listeners of the show. We're going to a $75 sponsor job credit to help get your job. The premium status it deserves at indeed.com slash podcast. So go to indeed.com slash podcast and support our show by saying you heard about indeed on this podcast indeed.com slash podcast terms and conditions apply need to hire. This is a job for indeed sponsored jobs. Can we talk about one of the most underrated organs in your body? Let's talk about your liver. It's your body's filter. Processes everything that you consume and performs more than 500 functions every day. It's involved in things like energy production digestion fat metabolism, vitamin storage, doing a lot of things behind the scenes for you. And that's why giving your liver daily support can be an important part of building healthy habits. Dose for your liver is a clinically back liver health supplement designed to support daily liver function.

22:45Unlike another capsule or powder, nose comes as a liquid two ounce daily shot that tastes like fresh squeezed orange juice. It's delicious. It's zero sugar, zero junk, zero calories. Makes it an easy addition to your daily routine, even with a busy schedule that we all have. You can find time in the morning to take it and just move on with your day. And something with this many benefits, it's worth it. Ready to give your liver the support it deserves. Head to dose daily dot CO slash locked on M will be or inter locked on M will be to get 35% off your first subscription. Your body does so much for you. Let's do something for it. That's D O S E D A I L Y dot CO slash locked on M will be for 35% off your first month subscription. Thanks for making a locked on cartels for personalists. I'm the day and thank you for making locked on the number one sports podcast network. And thank you to all of you who stay up late with me on these West Coast games, man. I know it's it's rough.

23:46It's rough Dodgers San Francisco San Diego in the A L and it's Seattle. Like I get it, man. It is not easy to stay up late and then get up early and start doing things. But you guys are rock stars. So they told you who stay up with me and interact with me on X. So good times. I don't have to do that today because it's an afternoon game. But we like to keep an eye on the future here and locked on Cardinals. There's been more emphasis on paying attention to what's happening at AAA at AA, even A ball stuff with some of the new guys that they drafted. There's a lot of good stuff coming up through the minor leagues. The Cardinals farm system is very, very strong. AA Springfield. If they played Memphis, AA might win because well, first off, the Memphis guys have graduated like a lot of the good ones have graduated up to the Cardinals. But AA's got one hell of a team, one hell of a team. I would be shocked if they don't win the championship this year. But Daniel Egan was impressive once again, 23 year old who was acquired in that deal with

24:49the Diamondbacks for large new park. It goes five and two thirds innings. He allows three runs on five hits, does give up two home runs. He strikes out 11 in their 10 to seven victory over the Arkansas travelers. Now since joining the Cardinals organization, Egan is three in three, the RA of 4.15, which you're probably like, all right, I guess. Here's the numbers that pop. Forty eight strikeouts in 34 and two thirds innings. Yeah, thank you. Thank you. We'll take that. He's made six starts with the team thus far and has three games where he's hit double digits in strikeouts. He said, strikeouts totals of 10, 11 and 11 in three of those six starts. You won swing MS. I give you Daniel Egan. Guys been really, really impressive. Then at AAA, Memphis, you got the Redbirds, another very good team. Like, don't give me wrong. It's just that dad, that's pretty good team is freaking stacked. But they scored two in the bottom of the ninth inning to fourth sector innings. They win at 11 to 10 in 10 innings over the Norfolk tides.

25:53Former first round pick, Chase Davis, which we don't talk a ton about because I don't know if this is going to work out or not as a first round pick for the Cardinals. Batting average continues to be low. He's down in the 220s with Memphis. But that swing is still very pretty. And if they ever figure out how to unlock it and really, really get the most out of him, could be something valuable for this organization. He goes two for six in the game. He drives in four. Jimmy Crookes, two for five with a double. Hit his 15th finger of the season at AAA. Fulton lead better. Another guy, beautiful swing acquired in that three team trade involving Seattle and Tampa Bay for Brendan Donovan. He goes three for six in this game. Hit his swell, Thoma of the year, and also drives in three from the lead off spot. Cardinals are now six back in the wild card. Two games under 500. There's 72 and 74 that small percentage of being relevant in the wild card is getting

26:54smaller day by day. They're going to try to avoid getting swept today as they wrap up their three game series with the Giants. It's going to be a 245 start time in St. Louis, Andre Palante. We'll get the ball his second start since coming off the IEL blade. Tidwell will be the starter for the Giants. We'll see if the offense shows up. The pitching has been there. The pitching has been there. The lack of offense has been the issue for these first two games of the Cardinals of lost back to back when run losses to the Giants. Yeah. Gotta beat those teams when you're in the race for something and they've come up empty in the first two. So got to try to avoid the sweep today. We'll see what happens. Thanks for making a lot of Don Cardinals first listen every day. If you haven't already, give us a follow on accident. Ella will underscore Cardinals. TikTok and Instagram. A lot of Don Cardinals. You can like, subscribe on YouTube. You're your second list and check out locked on it. It will be game night every game every night until the world series champion is crowned. Local analysis, but on national scale, you can find him. It will be game night on the locked on it will be YouTube channel or wherever you listen

27:55to your podcasts. You guys are the best fans in baseball. I don't know why I just got twanging right there. You guys are the best fans in baseball. We'll see you next time on locked on Cardinals and enjoy the first game of the NFL season tonight. Past sea hawks who you got. Take him go and see hawks. Thank you for making locked on your first listen every day. For your second listen, find the all night locked on MLB game night. Every game every night until a world series champion is crowned. Get local analysis on a national scale. Find MLB game night on locked on MLB on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts.