Will the Cardinals have an "ace" this season?

[Shady]

Or will it be kind of like last season with not a true ace-type starting pitcher. How is the '26 staff shaping up, overall, compared to the '25 staff? It seems to me there could be, at least, a slight upgrade in '26. Depending on how Liberatore, McGreevy and Pallante progress. Leahy's ability to start. And if May and Fitts can stay healthy.

[MIDMOBIRDTWO]

Yes. No Maybe.

[Talkin' Baseball]

We'll have an opening day starter. Is that an ace?

[imetsatchelpaige]

You know, if you feed animals, they just keep coming back.
Because they think you like them.

[TraveledLessRoad]

No. They come back because they think they'll get more food

[imetsatchelpaige]

No. They come back because they think they'll get more food

And in the case we are discussing here, both.

[RamFan08NY]

Or will it be kind of like last season with not a true ace-type starting pitcher. How is the '26 staff shaping up, overall, compared to the '25 staff? It seems to me there could be, at least, a slight upgrade in '26. Depending on how Liberatore, McGreevy and Pallante progress. Leahy's ability to start. And if May and Fitts can stay healthy.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Define " ace".

[Shady]

Or will it be kind of like last season with not a true ace-type starting pitcher. How is the '26 staff shaping up, overall, compared to the '25 staff? It seems to me there could be, at least, a slight upgrade in '26. Depending on how Liberatore, McGreevy and Pallante progress. Leahy's ability to start. And if May and Fitts can stay healthy.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Define " ace".

A starter than is pretty sure to win games. Stop a losing streak. Regularly go deep into games. Be at least a 17 game/season winner.

[Midrange Jay]

“May’s signing makes him a candidate for the Opening Day rotation, and Cardinal Nation apparently anticipates May becoming the team’s ace. For the current state of the Cardinals’ staff, I believe that is fair to ask of the 28-year-old who has shown flashes of electric stuff the team has sorely needed.”

#TrustTheProcess

[CorneliusWolfe]

Or will it be kind of like last season with not a true ace-type starting pitcher. How is the '26 staff shaping up, overall, compared to the '25 staff? It seems to me there could be, at least, a slight upgrade in '26. Depending on how Liberatore, McGreevy and Pallante progress. Leahy's ability to start. And if May and Fitts can stay healthy.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Define " ace".

A starter than is pretty sure to win games. Stop a losing streak. Regularly go deep into games. Be at least a 17 game/season winner.

17 game winner? No. Maybe a couple 12-14 game winners if we’re lucky.

[C-Unit]

180+ innings
<1.10 whip
>9 K/9
>4 K/BB

[Cardinals4Life]

Or will it be kind of like last season with not a true ace-type starting pitcher. How is the '26 staff shaping up, overall, compared to the '25 staff? It seems to me there could be, at least, a slight upgrade in '26. Depending on how Liberatore, McGreevy and Pallante progress. Leahy's ability to start. And if May and Fitts can stay healthy.

Cardinals haven't had a real ace since the Carpenter/Waino days!

[45s]

Yes…

Someone will emerge as the best of a weak staff…

[Melville]

These days, an ace is someone who wins 15, covers 160 innings, and has an ERA below 4.25.
No, the Cardinals will not have an ace.
And never will under The Marmot.

[JuanAgosto]

Or will it be kind of like last season with not a true ace-type starting pitcher. How is the '26 staff shaping up, overall, compared to the '25 staff? It seems to me there could be, at least, a slight upgrade in '26. Depending on how Liberatore, McGreevy and Pallante progress. Leahy's ability to start. And if May and Fitts can stay healthy.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Define " ace".

A starter than is pretty sure to win games. Stop a losing streak. Regularly go deep into games. Be at least a 17 game/season winner.

Marmol will never allow a pitcher to consistently go deep in games. Mostly 5 innings and out. The iPad tells him.

[cardsrmyteam]

Cardinals will have a bunch of 4’s and 5’s. It’s the new model to develop from within. But let’s if there is any development now that Chaim is here .