Hunter Dobbins Returns as Cardinals Move Matt Pushard

Hunter Dobbins is back with the Cardinals after they recalled the right-handed starter from Triple-A Memphis and designated Matt Pushard for assignment. The move gives the club another arm while Pushard heads into waivers after a difficult stretch.

Dobbins Joins the Cardinals

The Cardinals used Dobbins as the corresponding move after sending Pushard off the active roster. He was scheduled to start in Memphis today, which makes this promotion look more like a short-term answer than a permanent bullpen conversion.

It is hard to see the Cardinals turning him into a reliever for long. Dobbins is a starter, and the team’s handling of this move points toward an immediate need rather than a full role change.

Pushard's 5.14 ERA

Pushard, a Rule 5 selection, posted a 5.14 ERA in six appearances for the Cardinals and spent most of the year on the injured list. He now goes through waivers and, if unclaimed, must be offered back to the Miami Marlins.

The assignment came after a rough outing against the Cubs on Saturday night, and it fits a larger pattern for a bullpen that has struggled to find a dependable mix beyond its top arms. Chaim Bloom has already watched the club add catcher Jimmy Crooks and outfielder Nelson Velazquez days earlier, another sign that the roster is still being shuffled.

Cardinals Bullpen Rebuild

For now, the most practical read is that Dobbins fills a vacancy while the Cardinals keep searching for stability. Unless they are ready to move someone like Kyle Leahy back into the bullpen, the right-hander appears more likely to return to Memphis after his appearance than to settle in as a long-term relief piece.