Matthew Liberatore

Active

St. Louis Cardinals · Pitcher

Age 266' 4" · 215 lbsThrows Left

FBaseball Overview

The 26-year-old left-hander offers modest fantasy value as a back-end starter for St. Louis, coming off a regression season in 2026 that saw his ERA balloon to 5.56 with a 1.58 WHIP across 77.2 innings. Liberatore's strikeout production remains serviceable at 70 K in limited action, but the jump in walks and hits allowed suggests control issues that plagued him throughout the year. His 3-5 record reflects both the poor ERA and likely weak run support, making him a fade in most fantasy formats unless he demonstrates improved command and can recapture the more respectable 4.21 ERA he posted in 2025. The former prospect has the upside of a viable rotation contributor if he can stabilize his performance, but managers should approach him with caution given the recent downturn.

MLB Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2022	St. Louis Cardinals	9	7	2	2	5.97	1.73	28	34.2	18
2023	St. Louis Cardinals	22	11	3	6	5.25	1.48	46	61.2	25
2024	St. Louis Cardinals	60	6	3	4	4.40	1.27	76	86.0	28
2025	St. Louis Cardinals	29	29	8	12	4.21	1.31	122	151.2	40
2026	St. Louis Cardinals	18	18	4	6	5.34	1.53	82	87.2	35
Career	Totals	138	71	20	30	4.78	1.40	354	421.2	146

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Minor League Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2018	2 teams▼	9	9	2	2	1.38	1.04	37	32.2	13
2019	Bowling Green Hot Rods	16	15	6	2	3.10	1.29	76	78.1	31
2021	Memphis Redbirds	22	18	9	9	4.04	1.25	123	124.2	33
2022	Memphis Redbirds	22	22	7	9	5.17	1.38	116	115.0	41
2023	Memphis Redbirds	13	13	4	3	4.18	1.48	84	64.2	38
Career	Totals	82	77	28	25	3.99	1.31	436	415.1	156

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Game Log2026 season

Loading game log…

Pitching Analytics2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

FB Velo94.5 mph

Avg Spin2350 rpm

Whiff %22.6%

K %21.0%

BB %9.0%

Hard Hit %41.6%

Barrel %10.0%

xERA5.49

xBA Against0.279

xSLG Against0.473

BA Against0.288

SLG Against0.488

GB%37.2%

FB%29.4%

What These Stats Mean

FB Velo — Average fastball velocity. Harder throwers generate more swings and misses, setting up every other pitch in their arsenal. Velocity is the foundation of strikeout upside.

Avg Spin — Average spin rate across all pitches. Higher spin creates more movement and makes pitches harder to square up — elite spinners run better strikeout and batting average against numbers.

Whiff % — Swings-and-misses per swing. The most direct measure of a pitcher's ability to miss bats and the best leading indicator of strikeout rate.

K % — Strikeout rate per batter faced. The core fantasy pitching stat — high K% means reliable strikeout totals that hold up even in shorter starts.

BB % — Walk rate per batter faced. The primary control metric. High BB% tanks ERA and WHIP and keeps baserunners on constantly. Elite starters typically run below 7%.

Hard Hit % — Percentage of batted balls hit 95 mph or harder against. Low hard-hit% means weak contact, protecting both ERA and the defense behind the pitcher.

Barrel % — Percentage of batted balls barreled against. The most direct home run predictor — low barrel% pitchers rarely give up long balls.

xERA — Expected ERA based on contact quality allowed, removing the effect of sequencing, luck, and defense. Better predictor of future ERA than ERA itself.

xBA Against — Expected batting average opponents should hit based on contact quality. A gap between xBA and actual BA indicates unsustainable luck in either direction.

xSLG Against — Expected slugging allowed based on contact quality. High xSLG against predicts future extra-base damage; low xSLG means the pitcher is genuinely suppressing power.

BA Against — Actual batting average opponents are hitting — a key WHIP component. Check xBA to see if the number is sustainable.

SLG Against — Actual slugging allowed. Captures hits, doubles, triples, and home runs — lower means the pitcher is limiting the power damage he gives up.

GB% — Ground ball rate. High GB% pitchers generate double plays, limit home runs, and keep the ball in the park — great for protecting ERA and WHIP ratios.

FB% — Fly ball rate. High FB% pitchers give up more air contact — dangerous when combined with high exit velocity, less so when contact is soft.

Loading player data...

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2022

St. Louis Cardinals

5.97

1.73

34.2

2023

St. Louis Cardinals

5.25

1.48

61.2

2024

St. Louis Cardinals

4.40

1.27

86.0

2025

St. Louis Cardinals

4.21

1.31

122

151.2

2026

St. Louis Cardinals

5.34

1.53

87.2

Career

Totals

138

4.78

1.40

354

421.2

146

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2018

2 teams▼

1.38

1.04

32.2

2019

Bowling Green Hot Rods

3.10

1.29

78.1

2021

Memphis Redbirds

4.04

1.25

123

124.2

2022

Memphis Redbirds

5.17

1.38

116

115.0

2023

Memphis Redbirds

4.18

1.48

64.2

Career

Totals

3.99

1.31

436

415.1

156