Overview
- The Cardinals announced on June 6 that they will shift to a six-man rotation and that Hunter Dobbins will make his next appearance as a starter.
- Dobbins has recently handled bulk relief work effectively, including a five-inning scoreless outing and an 11-out save, and scouts note his high-90s velocity plus a split-finger and sweeper.
- Team performance numbers and workload concerns drove the change because St. Louis’ starters have been uneven in ERA, innings and strikeouts while the schedule offers few off days.
- Ramon Urías’ rehab has been put on hold after he felt pain in his left elbow during a rehab swing and returned to St. Louis for evaluation, delaying his expected return.
- The six-man plan should give young arms extra rest and help limit innings for key starters, while the club’s bullpen usage and Urías’ roster timing remain uncertain in the near term.