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Cardinals' Hunter Dobbins: Snags save in long-relief outing
Rotowire
Dobbins allowed one run on four hits and struck out four without walking a batter over 3.2 innings to earn the save in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Cubs.
Dobbins was called up from Triple-A Memphis earlier in the day. While it was initially a possibility that he'd join the Cardinals' rotation, this long-relief outing, which saw him throw 41 of 61 pitches for strikes, will likely prevent him from making a start any time soon. Dobbins has given up four runs with an 8:5 K:BB over eight innings in two major-league appearances this season. He's sporting a 3.43 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 33:14 K:BB across 44.2 innings as a starter for Memphis. At this time, it's unclear if Dobbins will remain in the majors -- he'll likely be unavailable for a few days, but he was able to give all of the Cardinals' other relievers a day off Sunday.
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Cardinals' Hunter Dobbins: Rejoins MLB club
Rotowire
The Cardinals recalled Dobbins from Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
After opening the season on the injured list while completing his rehab from knee surgery, Dobbins made his Cardinals debut April 30 in Pittsburgh and was optioned to Memphis after giving up three runs across 4.1 innings. The right-hander has worked out of the rotation at Triple-A but should immediately be available out of the bullpen for St. Louis since he was scheduled to start Sunday for Memphis. According to Jones, the Cardinals could look to insert Dobbins into the rotation if he's not needed in Sunday's contest.
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Cardinals' Hunter Dobbins: Optioned after spot start
Rotowire
The Cardinals optioned Dobbins to Triple-A Memphis on Friday.
Dobbins made a spot start Thursday in Pittsburgh, starting strong before losing the strike zone. He finished with three runs allowed on two hits and five walks with four strikeouts over 4.1 frames. The Cardinals are likely to need Dobbins to make further starts this season, but the club will shift back to a traditional five-man rotation for now.
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Cardinals' Hunter Dobbins: Signs of rust in team debut
Rotowire
Dobbins didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Pirates, allowing three runs on two hits and five walks in 4.1 innings. He struck out four.
Dobbins wasn't sharp in both his Cardinals and season debut coming off last year's knee surgery, tying a career worst in free passes and firing only 41 of his 79 pitches for strikes. St. Louis is working with a six-man rotation for the time being due to a lack of off days, so the 26-year-old right-hander might only be staying in the major leagues temporarily. That said, Dobbins appears likely to get at least one more turn through the rotation next week against the division-rival Brewers.
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Cardinals' Hunter Dobbins: Ready for season, team debut
Rotowire
The Cardinals activated Dobbins (knee) from the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Dobbins will start Thursday's game in Pittsburgh as the Cardinals shift to a temporary six-man rotation amidst a 17-day stretch with no off days. He'll be making his team and 2026 big-league debut after posting a 4.37 ERA and 19:9 K:BB over 22.2 innings in five rehab starts with Triple-A Memphis. Dobbins -- who was acquired from the Red Sox over the offseason -- is coming back from ACL surgery, which he underwent last July. He got his pitch count up to as high as 91 on his rehab assignment, so Dobbins should be capable of handling a full workload Thursday.
Dobbins (knee) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Thursday in Pittsburgh, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
The right-hander will be making his Cardinals debut Thursday after opening the season on the shelf while continuing to recover from a torn ACL in his right knee that he suffered last July. Dobbins has made five starts with Triple-A Memphis during his minor-league rehab assignment, producing a 4.37 ERA and 1.35 WHIP with 19 punchouts over 22.2 innings. The Cardinals are expected to temporarily transition to a six-man rotation to make room for Dobbins, who will likely need to perform well in his initial opportunities with the big club to ensure he sticks around in a starting role when St. Louis eventually scales back its rotation to five members.
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Cardinals' Hunter Dobbins: In line to serve as sixth starter
Rotowire
The Cardinals are likely to insert Dobbins (knee) as part of a six-man rotation during their stretch of 17 games without an off day that begins Friday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Coming back from last year's ACL surgery, Dobbins is slated to make a fifth rehab start with Triple-A Memphis on Saturday. That would put him in line to make his Cardinals debut as soon as April 30 in Pittsburgh, and he appears likely to receive multiple turns as the club looks to keep their rotation members rested. Acquired over the offseason from the Red Sox in the Willson Contreras trade, Dobbins holds a 3.86 ERA and 16:4 K:BB over 18.2 frames covering his first four rehab outings with Memphis.
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Cardinals' Hunter Dobbins: Drawing third rehab start Tuesday
Rotowire
Dobbins (knee) will make the third start of his rehab assignment Tuesday at Triple-A Memphis.
Dobbins reached five innings in both of his prior two starts with Memphis and produced a 3.48 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 10:3 K:BB across 10.1 frames in total between the outings. After Wednesday, the right-hander should be stretched out enough to handle a typical starter's workload, but it's unclear if St. Louis will have an opening for him in its rotation. Andre Pallante owns a 5.40 ERA and 1.60 WHIP through his three starts and would seem to be most at risk of moving to the bullpen if the Cardinals decide to shake up their rotation to make room for Dobbins once he's activated from the injured list.
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Cardinals' Hunter Dobbins: Ready for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Dobbins (knee) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday at Triple-A Memphis, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Dobbins managed to build up during spring training, though the team has limited him in fielding drills as he continues to rehab from ACL surgery. A timetable for his return from the injured list is unclear at this time, and even once he's fully healthy, it's unknown if he'll have a spot in the rotation waiting for him.
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Cardinals' Hunter Dobbins: Goes on IL
Rotowire
The Cardinals placed Dobbins (knee) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Dobbins is still working his way back from July surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee. Though he's been able to steadily build up his pitch count throughout the spring through live batting practice sessions and simulated games, he's not yet been cleared for full fielding and agility drills. Once he clears that hurdle in the recovery process, Dobbins may not require an extensive rehab assignment, but the Cardinals aren't guaranteed to have a spot in the rotation available for him upon his return from the IL.
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Cardinals' Hunter Dobbins: Opening season on IL
Rotowire
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Sunday that Dobbins (knee) will begin the season on the injured list, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
The right-hander continues to work his way back from ACL surgery last July, and he needs a bit more time before being fully cleared for game action. Dobbins built up to five innings while throwing on the back fields Saturday, but he still has some work to do in regard to fielding his position. The 26-year-old may not require a lengthy absence to begin the season, but he's also not guaranteed to join the big-league club once fully healthy.
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Cardinals' Hunter Dobbins: Pitching in minor-league game
Rotowire
Dobbins (knee) will pitch in another minor-league game later this week, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Returning from last July's right ACL surgery, Dobbins threw four innings and around 65 pitches in a previous appearance on the back fields. He was pleased with how that outing went, saying "a lot of the movement profiles have increased" after "some of the tweaks we've been making." Dobbins will be permitted to field his position in the game later this week, but he will not be allowed to cover first base, as the Cardinals are still being protective of his surgically repaired knee. The 26-year-old is set to open the 2026 season either on the injured list or at Triple-A Memphis, but he's a candidate to see starts for St. Louis later this summer.
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Cardinals' Hunter Dobbins: Hopes for full clearance Wednesday
Rotowire
Dobbins (knee) will travel Wednesday to visit a doctor in Wisconsin, where he hopes to be fully cleared for spring-training activities, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Recovering from last July's right ACL surgery, Dobbins has thrown bullpen sessions and live batting practice sessions with the rest of the Cardinals' pitchers, but his fielding and running has been limited. As long as he gains clearance Wednesday, Dobbins should make some Grapefruit League appearances for St. Louis. However, the late start likely takes him out of the Opening Day rotation competition.
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Cardinals' Hunter Dobbins: Will go through normal PFP Monday
Rotowire
Dobbins (knee) is slated to go through a normal pitchers' fielding practice Monday, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
The right-hander is being eased into full baseball activities following last July's right ACL surgery. He went through limited fielding practice Saturday and will increase his running and defensive work during the upcoming week. Dobbins does not appear to be in any danger of missing Opening Day, but being brought along slowly in spring training likely takes him out of the running for a spot in the Cardinals' initial rotation plans.
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Cardinals' Hunter Dobbins: Not doing fielding, running drills
Rotowire
Dobbins (knee) is being held out of fielding and running drills early on in Cardinals camp, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Dobbins' throwing program is on track, but he is being eased into other baseball activities as he comes back from last July's right ACL surgery. It's unclear when Dobbins might pitch in games or if he'll be ready for Opening Day, which could, in effect, take him out of the rotation competition. Dobbins was acquired via trade from the Red Sox this offseason in the deal that sent Willson Contreras to Boston.
Cardinals' Hunter Dobbins: Uncertain timeline for return
Rotowire
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom indicated during the team's recent Winter Warm-Up fan event that it's uncertain whether Dobbins (knee) will pitch in spring training games, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Dobbins needed surgery to repair a torn right ACL in July. He's been throwing all offseason, but the Cardinals could still choose to slow-play their offseason trade acquisition. If healthy, Dobbins will compete for a spot in the St. Louis rotation, but he does have minor-league options remaining and could also be stashed on the injured list for a while. More clarity on Dobbins' timetable should be available once spring training gets underway.
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