Cardinals No. 2 Prospect Looks to Jumpstart his 2026 Season during This Year’s Campaign
The St. Louis Cardinals turn are looking past 2025 as playoff hopes fade and look to get a jump start on 2026. Does this mean No. 2 prospect Quinn Mathews is next up?
The St. Louis Cardinals aren’t throwing in the towel — but let’s face it, the writing is on the wall. With 51 games to go and the team sitting 11 games back in the NL Central and 6.5 behind the Wild Card, this isn’t the playoff push fans were dreaming about back in April.
And the front office isn’t pretending otherwise. The trades of Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz, and Phil Maton sent a clear message: 2025 is lost, time to look to 2026. It’s a bitter pill, but also an opportunity — a wide-open runway for the next wave of talent to show what they’ve got. And there’s one name Cardinals fans need to keep an eye on: Quinn Mathews.
Is Quinn Mathews Ready for the Big Show?
The 24-year-old left-hander — currently the Cardinals’ No. 2 prospect — is knocking on the big-league door. He’s with Triple-A Memphis right now and pitching like a guy who’s about to skip the line. MLB.com has him pegged for a 2025 debut, but with the Cards entering evaluation mode, why wait?
We’ve already seen one future piece enter the rotation — Michael McGreevy just got the call after the club parted ways with Erick Fedde. Now it’s time to follow that up by giving Mathews a look. Even if it’s just a few starts or bullpen outings down the stretch, the Cardinals would be smart to use this time to acclimate him to the show. Remember, McGreevy made four appearances last season. It’s a model that makes sense.
This isn’t about waving the white flag — it’s about building the bridge to the future. With Chaim Bloom taking over baseball operations and big roster decisions looming, the final weeks of the 2025 season are more than just filler. They’re a testing ground.
Cardinals fans may not get October baseball this year. But they just might get a glimpse of who will help get them back there soon.
