The St. Louis Cardinals have taken another hit to their pitching depth early in the 2026 season, as promising right-hander Richard Fitts has been placed on the minor league injured list with a lat strain. This development removes one of the team’s most intriguing depth options at a time when the major league rotation is already struggling to find consistency.
Fitts, who was acquired during the offseason as part of the Sonny Gray trade, quickly made a strong impression during spring training. He emerged as a legitimate contender for a spot in the Opening Day rotation and, although he ultimately fell short, he positioned himself near the top of the list for a potential call-up. His performance suggested that it would only be a matter of time before he got an opportunity at the major league level.
His early-season results at Triple-A Memphis further reinforced that belief. In three starts, Fitts delivered a standout 1.76 ERA while striking out 11 batters across 15.1 innings. While he was not necessarily expected to single-handedly solve the Cardinals’ rotation issues, he offered a reliable and effective option if the team needed reinforcements. Unfortunately, his injury now sidelines him for the foreseeable future, leaving the organization with fewer immediate alternatives.
With Fitts unavailable, attention now shifts to Hunter Dobbins as the next likely candidate to step into a role with the big-league club. Dobbins has been working his way back on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis and has shown encouraging signs so far. Over 10.1 innings, he has posted a 3.48 ERA with 10 strikeouts, demonstrating that he could be ready to contribute soon. As his rehab window nears its conclusion, the Cardinals will need to decide whether to integrate him into the major league rotation or send him back to Triple-A for additional development.
The timing of Fitts’ injury is particularly concerning given the current struggles of the Cardinals’ starting staff. Through the first 15 games of the season, the rotation has posted underwhelming numbers across the board. They rank near the bottom of the league in several key categories, including ERA, innings pitched, WHIP, and opponent batting average. Even in games where starters have delivered acceptable results on the surface, underlying metrics suggest that those performances may not be sustainable over time.
There have been occasional bright spots, such as Dustin May’s recent improved outing, which offered a glimpse of what the rotation could look like at its best. However, those flashes have been inconsistent, and the team may soon need to explore alternative options if the current group fails to turn things around.
Dobbins appears to be a strong candidate to provide that spark, especially since the Cardinals have not yet used an option on him due to his rehab status. This suggests the organization is keeping the door open for him to join the rotation in the near future. His readiness could prove crucial as the team evaluates its next steps.
As for Fitts, the Cardinals will be hoping his stint on the injured list is brief. His development remains important to the team’s long-term plans, and his potential impact later in the season could still be significant. In the meantime, however, his absence adds pressure on both the current rotation and the next wave of pitchers to step up and deliver.
Leave a Reply