With the Cardinals Intent on Protecting the Health of Ivan Herrera, the Club Could Notch A Statistical Oddity Early in the Season

Cardinals first baseman Alec zBurleson, the hero of Opening Day with his three hits and a towering two-run home run, discuses the team's fortunes for 2026. ST. LOUIS – There is a scenario where the Cardinals could potentially open the 2026 season with three different starting catchers in the first three games.

After Pedro Pagés started the Opening Day 9-7 win over the Rays, Iván Herrera got the nod on Saturday with right-handed pitcher Michael McGreevy on the mound. On Sunday, with newcomer Dustin May scheduled to start against the Rays, the Cardinals could open with Yohel Pozo behind the plate as the starter. Game ✌️ pic.

twitter. com/4HiKK9cNdB — St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 28, 2026 Herrera, who underwent surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow in the offseason and battled knee pain in Spring Training, almost assuredly won’t be back behind the plate on Sunday in the final game of the series.

With former Cardinal Steven Matz scheduled to start for the Rays on Sunday, the Cardinals will likely try and get the right-handed bats of Pozo and Herrera into the lineup. “It doesn’t need to be that way, but mathematically yes it could be (three starting catchers in three games),” Cardinals’ manager Oliver Marmol admitted prior to Saturday’s game. “I think it is (important to get players into games early in the season) if it lines up that way – not just for the first three (games), but over the homestand.