Cardinals’ Chaim Bloom Sees Big Things Ahead for 25-Year-Old Fireballer Tekoah Roby

Roby enters rotation discussion

The Cardinals’ 2027 starting rotation remains uncertain. Michael McGreevy, Kyle Leahy and Andre Pallante are among the likeliest options, while Quinn Mathews is also in the picture after recording a 3.83 ERA in nine starts late in the season. The club could also pursue a veteran starter this offseason.

Roby, a 25-year-old right-hander, has emerged as another possibility after a strong Arizona Fall League showing. Bloom told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Roby could be in contention to help the 2027 rotation.

Bloom notes workload concerns

Bloom said Roby’s season ended later than usual and that he has not carried much workload. The team will monitor how he ramps up and what it asks him to do. Bloom also said Roby has a chance to affect the team in 2027, adding that he might already be contributing if he had not been injured.

Fall League results stand out

Roby has made three Arizona Fall League starts without allowing a run across 9 1/3 innings. He has struck out 13 and walked one. He did not pitch during the 2026 season and made 16 starts in 2025. Those gaps make workload management an important part of the Cardinals’ plans.

Several paths remain possible

A strong spring training could help Roby contend for a rotation role, but the team could also bring in a veteran starter. One possible approach would be to use that addition until the trade deadline, then give Roby a place in the rotation, unless an injury creates an earlier opening.

The Cardinals could also build up Roby gradually in Triple-A. The article points to Joshua Baez and Mathews as players who received opportunities after trades in 2026.