The St. Louis Cardinals (34-48) are in for a challenge against Gerrit Cole at Busch Stadium on Sunday when the impressive right-hander takes the mound for the New York Yankees (46-37) with the three-game Interleague series all square at 1-1.
The teams split Saturday’s series-opening doubleheader. After the Cardinals took the first game 11-4, the Yankees bounced back with a 6-2 win in the nightcap.
Reliever Michael King was credited with the win after throwing 3.1 scoreless innings. Isiah Kiner-Falefa was 3 for 3 with two runs in the win. Anthony Volpe added a triple, two runs, and one RBI. Lars Nootbaar went 2 for 5 with a home run and two runs for the Cardinals.
ON THE MOUND
Cole (8-1, 2.78 ERA) is set to get the start for New York. The right-hander ranks fourth in the AL in ERA, tied for fourth in wins, and fifth in strikeouts (113). Cole allowed three runs over 4.2 innings in his last start, a 5-3 home win over the Rangers on June 25.
He yielded nine hits while striking out seven and walking one in the no-decision. For St. Louis, LHP Jordan Montgomery (5-7, 3.52 ERA) will toe the rubber. It’s his first appearance of the season against the Yankees.
Montgomery made one start against the Yankees in 2022, throwing five innings in a 1-0 home win on August 6. He gave up two hits and walked one while striking out one in the win.
In his last start on Tuesday, Montgomery got the win at home against the Astros. He threw 6.2 innings and gave up two runs (1 ER) on six hits, striking out six and walking one in the 4-2 victory.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, New York has averaged 6.4 runs a game, up from their season average of 4.5, while performing better across the board (.290/.369/.432). Against lefties like Montgomery this season, the Yanks have a .747 OPS.
Anthony Rizzo is the team’s most potent producer against left-handers with a .946 OPS in 57 at-bats. St. Louis is averaging 4.8 runs per game in the last five, up slightly from 4.6 for the season.
The Cards have a .752 OPS against righties in 2023. With a .923 OPS over 236 at-bats, Paul Goldschmidt has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
New York is 21-18 on the road in 2023, scoring 4.8 runs per game while allowing 4.3 runs. St. Louis has gone 16-25 in front of their home fans this season, averaging 5.1 runs per game while surrendering 5.6. St. Louis is 5-3 in eight meetings at Busch Stadium with an average scoreline of 5.5-4.4.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Yankees are third in the AL East, nine games behind the division-leading Rays. The Cardinals are fifth in the NL Central, nine games behind the Brewers.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
NY Yankees (-115)
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