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sports1d ago
One Overlooked Stat Screams Richard Fitts for Cardinals’ No. 5 Job
- The Cardinals enter a crowded No. 5 rotation race, with multiple in-house candidates, including Fitts, Pallante, Leahy, and Dobbins, making the decision increasingly nuanced as Opening Day approaches.
- Fitts has shown potential as a legitimate No. 5 starter option, buoyed by prior acquisition and spring velocity, signaling an expanded role if he continues to perform.
- Spring training velocity remains a key driver for Fitts, who has reached the 97 mph range, reinforcing his upside in the Cardinals’ bullpen-to-starter trajectory.
- Fitts’ Stuff+ metric underscores his upside, with elevated spring indicators suggesting he could impact the rotation sooner than anticipated.
- The 2024-25 offseason trade brought Fitts to St. Louis, signaling the club’s intent to add major-league upside to the rotation.
- Dobbins’ return from knee surgery adds another layer to the rotation depth, with a path to contributing once fully ramped up.
- Dobbins’ rookie season brilliance in Boston provides a competing argument for a back-end rotation spot once fully healthy.
- The new reference emphasizes a crowded competition heading into Opening Day, suggesting the Cardinals’ rotation is closer to a surplus than a deficit when everyone is healthy.
- The mix of prospects and veterans deployed in the offseason aligns with the goal of accelerating rotation improvement through velocity and depth of arsenal.
- Opening Day remains the benchmark as the Cardinals sort through a high-variance set of options, with Fitts positioned as a prominent contender for the No. 5 slot.
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