As he continues his monthslong search for the effectiveness he displayed early on this season, there are some positive signs of late for Matthew Liberatore.
Liberatore starts Tuesday at 8:40 p.m. (St. Louis time) as the Cardinals and Mariners continue their three-game set in Seattle.
The Cardinals lost Monday's opener 4-2 mostly due to a short-handed bullpen that allowed a sixth-inning rally.
Liberatore, in his first full year as a starter, was one of the league's biggest breakout players early on in 2025, then he began struggling with inconsistency.
When looking at the last two starts by theÌýleft-hander Liberatore (7-11, 4.15 ERA), there's a lot to like. He topped 80 pitches in both, his first time doing so in consecutive games since before the break.
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He finished the fifth inning in both, also a post-break first.
He was able to land both of his breaking pitches for strikes, throwing his slider in the zone 83.3% of the time, nearly double his season average. His combined 58.3% whiff rate on the slider and curve is also a season best.
While his fastball velocity was a tick under 93 miles per hour in each of his last two games, his second and third slowest game averages this season, the results spoke for themselves. Batters hit .111 against the fastball.
Liberatore, if the rotation remains on turn, will have three more starts after Tuesday, including two in the season's final homestand.
The Mariners will start right-hander George Kirby (8-7, 4.47 ERA). His performance is down a bit this season, his first below-average year among his three full big-league seasons.
The Cardinals are 72-73 and will need to win the final two to win their fourth consecutive series. They're 4 1/2 games out of the final wild-card spot.
Winners of three straight, the Mariners are 76-68, two games behind the Astros for the American League West lead. They hold the AL's third and final wild-card spot.
How to watch Cardinals at Mariners
When:Ìý8:40 p.m. Tuesday
Where:ÌýT-Mobile Park in Seattle
TV/radio: FanDuel ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Network Midwest (); KMOX (1120 AM and 104.1 FM), other stations in the as well as .
Your options to watch: Input your ZIP code and see your choices for watching Cardinals games.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Lars Nootbaar, RF
2. Iván Herrera, DH
3. Alec Burleson, LF
4. Willson Contreras, 1B
5. Nolan Gorman, 3B
6. Masyn Winn, SS
7. Thomas Saggese, 2B
8. Pedro Pagés, C
9. Victor Scott II, CF
P: Matthew Liberatore, LHP
MARINERS
1. Randy Arozarena, LF
2. Cal Raleigh, C
3. Julio RodrÃguez, CF
4. Eugenio Suárez, 3B
5. Jorge Polanco, 2B
6. Josh Naylor, 1B
7. Mitch Garver, DH
8. Victor Robles, RF
9. J.P. Crawford, SS
P: George Kirby, RHP
Injury report
Nolan Arenado, 3B (right shoulder strain):ÌýArenado took batting practice Monday at Busch Stadium and will return to do the same Tuesday against some pitchers from Class A Peoria. If that goes well, Arenado will begin his rehab assignment Wednesday at Class AA Springfield. Arenado said his goal is to return to the Cardinals on Sept. 15 when they host Cincinnati.ÌýÌýUpdated Sept. 8
Brendan Donovan, 2B (sprained toe/left groin):ÌýAfter taking live batting practice on Monday at Busch Stadium, Donovan traveled to Springfield, Missouri, where he will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with six innings at second base. The Cardinals are open to the possibility that Donovan spends two or three games with the Class AA S-Cards and then joins them in Milwaukee and is active for this weekend.ÌýUpdated Sept. 8
John King, LHP (mid-back strain):ÌýLefty threw live batting practice Monday at Busch Stadium against teammates Arenado and Donovan. King will head to Class AA Springfield to throw Wednesday in the official beginning of his rehab assignment. King’s back injury is believed to be related to the left oblique strain that landed him on the IL near the end of July and kept him sidelined through the first three weeks of August.ÌýUpdated Sept. 8
Zack Thompson, LHP (shoulder, lat strain):ÌýLefty starter remains on a throwing program in Jupiter, trying to overcome some setbacks as he increased the intensity of his throws through the course of the season. He's visited St. Louis for evaluation to monitor if the injury worsens. Thompson has been sidelined since the start of March and was transferred to the 60-day injured list in early April. There is no timetable for his return to the mound.ÌýUpdated Aug. 6
