5 pitching options the St. Louis Cardinals should consider post-lockout

Jack Flaherty #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches in the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium on October 3, 2021 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Kane/Getty Images)
Jack Flaherty #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches in the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium on October 3, 2021 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Kane/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 08: Starting pitcher Matt Harvey #32 of the Baltimore Orioles throws to a Kansas City Royals batter at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 08, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 08: Starting pitcher Matt Harvey #32 of the Baltimore Orioles throws to a Kansas City Royals batter at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 08, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Matt Harvey

Matt Harvey never grew into the superstar, caped crusader status that was once hoped of him. Instead, he’s slowed it down with smaller market teams, attempting to find his place beyond Gotham.

Last season, Harvey pitched 6-14 for the Baltimore Orioles. He threw 127.2 innings and 95 strikeouts in 28 games started.

During his nine-year career, he’s 50-66 in 180 games pitched with 966.1 innings and 867 strikeouts. He’s played with the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, the Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City Royals, and last season with the Orioles.

While the teams he has been with haven’t exactly had the best defense, Harvey’s got a hefty pitching arsenal to work with. Harvey uses a four-seam fastball, a sinker, a curveball, a slider, and a changeup.

It would be interesting to see Harvey pair down that arsenal to three effective pitches. If the Cardinals were to kick the tires on Harvey, it would be curious to see him pair down the five-pitch arsenal, make use of and become more confident in his off-speed pitches.

It could be great to see how Harvey would perform within the Cardinals, their top defense, as well as Maddux and Molina. He could finally see the success that was expected of him. A one-year contract filled with incentives could be good for the righty heading into his age 33 season.