Right-hander Hunter Dobbins earned a statistical rarity on May 31, 2026, recording a save in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 5-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Dobbins, who is typically a starting pitcher, provided critical length for the Cardinals by pitching the final 3 2/3 innings of the series finale.
The appearance marked Dobbins’ debut at Busch Stadium. He took over the game after starter Matthew Liberatore pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Liberatore noted the unusual nature of the situation, as Dobbins is not a traditional closer.
Regarding Dobbins’ performance and his presence in the post-game celebrations, Liberatore stated:
I think that was the only time I’ve ever seen one pitcher, being the starter, standing in the high-five line after a game,That was huge for us, we couldn’t have asked for a better job from him.
Louis Cardinals
Matthew Liberatore
Following the win, Dobbins initially believed the outing represented the first save of his career. However, a reporter informed him that he had previously recorded a save on March 6, 2019, during his freshman season at Texas Tech.
Processing the reminder of his collegiate history, Dobbins responded:
I was going to say, that’s the, uh,Man, I loved my time at Tech, and 2019 was a special year, but I’m glad I could get my first pro one here tonight.
Hunter Dobbins
The appearance came shortly after a series of roster adjustments. The St. Louis Cardinals officially recalled Dobbins from Triple-A Memphis on May 31, 2026. To make room on the active roster, the team designated rookie pitcher Matt Pushard for assignment.
Postgame interview: Dobbins earns first pro save, fuels Cardinals series win against Cubs
Pushard had been selected by the Cardinals in the 2025 Rule 5 Draft from the Miami Marlins. During his six appearances with St. Louis, Pushard posted a 5.14 ERA over seven innings pitched with a 6-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Dobbins joined the Cardinals organization this past offseason after being acquired from the Boston Red Sox as part of the trade for Willson Contreras. The 26-year-old had previously made one appearance for St. Louis during the 2026 season on April 30.
In that April 30 debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Dobbins pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed three earned runs before being sent down to Triple-A Memphis. His return to the major league club on May 31 culminated in the unusual save against Chicago.
