The St. Louis Cardinals are heading into 2026 at a crossroads – not quite rebuilding, but clearly in transition. After a few seasons of middling results and a 78-84 finish last year, the organization is shifting its focus toward youth, and nowhere is that more evident than in the starting rotation.

With Sonny Gray now in Boston following a major offseason trade, the top of the rotation is wide open. That’s left a big opportunity for someone to grab the reins, and 26-year-old lefty Matthew Liberatore is making it clear he wants to be that guy.

“Yeah, I’m not gonna lie, I want [that Opening Day starting role],” Liberatore said during a recent appearance on the Cardinal Territory podcast.

It’s a bold statement, but one that speaks volumes about where both Liberatore and the Cardinals are right now. This isn’t a veteran-heavy team anymore.

Outside of Nolan Arenado, every projected starter – both in the field and on the mound – is under 30. The Cardinals are betting big on their young core, and Liberatore is aiming to be one of the faces of that group.

Last season marked Liberatore’s first full year as a starter, and while the numbers weren’t eye-popping – a 4.21 ERA – they showed enough promise to keep him firmly in the mix. He’s not a flamethrower, and he won’t overpower hitters with elite velocity, but his game is built around deception and inducing weak contact. That style can play well in the big leagues if executed consistently.

The key now is refinement. Liberatore has shown flashes of being a reliable arm, but to make the leap to Opening Day starter – and potentially staff ace – he’ll need to take another step forward. That means sharper command, more consistency in his secondary pitches, and the ability to handle deeper lineups multiple times through the order.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, are clearly embracing a youth movement. With Gray and catcher Willson Contreras also now in Boston, the team has shed some of its veteran backbone. The front office is placing its faith in players like Liberatore and shortstop Masyn Winn, who’s quickly becoming one of the most exciting young talents in the organization.

Winn, in particular, represents the kind of high-upside development the Cardinals are banking on. If he can take the next step and become a true impact player, it could change the entire dynamic of the team.

But that’s the gamble – the Cardinals aren’t supplementing their roster with big-name free agents or proven veterans. They’re leaning into their farm system and trusting that their young talent is ready to carry the load.

It’s a risky strategy, especially in a division that doesn’t offer much margin for error. But it also opens the door for players like Liberatore to carve out a real role – not just as a rotation piece, but as a leader on the mound.

If he can harness his confidence and turn it into results, there’s a real chance he could be the one taking the ball on Opening Day. And for a Cardinals team looking for a new identity, that might be exactly what they need.