Cardinals left-hander Packy Naughton is facing yet another setback as he exited a recent Triple-A outing due to a UCL injury, looking for a second opinion on treatment. This development is particularly troubling for Naughton, who has previously undergone two major elbow surgeries and missed the entire 2025 season rehabilitating from his last operation. In other injury news, righty Richard Fitts has been placed on the injured list with a lat strain, further depleting the Cardinals' pitching depth as they grapple with early-season struggles.

By the Numbers
  • Naughton has a career ERA of 4.98 in 59.2 MLB innings.
  • Fitts posted a sub-2.00 ERA across 15.1 innings in Triple-A this season.
State of Play
  • The Cardinals' rotation has a 4.92 ERA, ranking fifth-worst in MLB.
  • Starting pitchers have the lowest strikeout rate in the league at 13.6%.
What's Next

With Naughton possibly facing a third UCL surgery, the Cardinals may need to consider alternative pitching options or trades to strengthen their rotation, especially if injuries continue to plague their lineup.

Bottom Line

The Cardinals face significant challenges in their pitching staff, with injuries sidelining key players and poor performance stats exacerbating the situation. Quick, strategic moves are essential to avert a deeper crisis in their rotation.