The St. Louis Cardinals have taken another hit to their already thin pitching depth, as one of their most promising young arms is now sidelined. Right-handed pitcher Richard Fitts, who was acquired during the offseason in the Sonny Gray trade, has been placed on the minor league injured list due to a lat strain. This development removes a key potential reinforcement from the team’s rotation at a time when it is badly needed.
Fitts had generated considerable excitement during spring training, where he made a strong case for a spot in the Opening Day rotation. Although he ultimately fell short of securing a role, he positioned himself as one of the top options to be called up if an opportunity arose. His performance at Triple-A Memphis early in the season only strengthened that belief. Across three starts, Fitts posted an impressive 1.76 ERA while recording 11 strikeouts over 15.1 innings. While he was not expected to single-handedly fix the Cardinals’ pitching issues, he was seen as a reliable option who could provide stability if called upon.
With Fitts now unavailable, attention quickly shifts to another pitcher in the organization, Hunter Dobbins. Dobbins has been working his way back through a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis and has shown encouraging results so far. In his limited action, he has compiled a 3.48 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 10.1 innings. As his rehab assignment nears its conclusion, the Cardinals will soon face a decision regarding his role—whether to integrate him into the major league rotation or officially assign him to Triple-A for further development.
The timing of Fitts’ injury is particularly concerning given the struggles of the Cardinals’ starting rotation. Through the first 15 games of the season, the rotation has ranked near the bottom of the league in several key categories. The group currently sits 23rd in ERA at 4.92, 22nd in innings pitched with 75, and 25th in WHIP at 1.45. Opposing hitters have had considerable success, as reflected by a .279 batting average against, which ranks 30th in the league. Additionally, the rotation’s 4.74 FIP suggests that underlying performance metrics are not much better, raising concerns about long-term sustainability.
While there have been occasional bright spots, those performances have often been accompanied by warning signs beneath the surface. For example, recent outings may look solid on the stat sheet but fail to inspire confidence when examining advanced metrics. There is hope that some pitchers will begin to turn things around, as seen in Dustin May’s improved performance in his most recent start against Boston. However, the organization may soon be forced to make adjustments if consistency remains elusive.
In this context, Dobbins could emerge as a viable solution. The fact that the Cardinals have not yet used an option on him while he remains on a rehab assignment suggests they are keeping the door open for a potential promotion. If he continues to perform well, he may soon find himself stepping into a larger role at the major league level.
For now, the Cardinals must navigate their pitching challenges without Fitts, whose absence places added pressure on both the current rotation and the next wave of arms. The team will be hoping for a quick recovery, as Fitts remains an important piece of their depth and future plans. Until then, the burden falls on others to step up and stabilize a rotation that has struggled to find its footing early in the season.
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