As they begin their final homestand of 2025, the Cardinals don’t have a lot to play for. The Brewers, the Redbirds’ opponent this weekend, do.
The Cardinals open their final home series Friday at 7:15 p.m. vs. the Brewers, who are inching toward locking down the National League Central for the third straight year. With a six-game lead over the Cubs and nine games to play, the Brewers’ celebration could come in St. Louis.
Seeking to delay that celebration, right-hander Sonny Gray 13-8, 4.43 ERA) takes the mound for the Cardinals. Beating the Brewers is not something that Gray has accomplished often in his Cardinals tenure.
He is just 0-3 in six starts with a 5.35 ERA, and the team has only won two of those six Gray starts. He gave up two earned runs in five innings on Saturday in Milwaukee, a game the Brewers rallied to win.
Milwaukee did its damage vs. Gray’s fastballs, a recurring theme for the struggling veteran. Opponents have hit .429 or better vs. Gray’s fastballs four times in the last six games. The Brewers did so at a .500 clip on Saturday.
Foes only did that much damage vs. Gray’s fastball five times all of last season. Over the course of the season, Gray is allowing a .329 batting average against fastballs. That would be a career worst and a 60-point increase from last year.
Gray, who finished second in American League Cy Young voting two seasons ago, is at risk of finishing with a below average ERA for the first time since 2018.
For the Brewers, rookie right-hander Jacob Misiorowski (5-2, 4.35 ERA) will make his first start in his home state. After making the All-Star game in July, Misiorowski has 5.50 ERA in eight starts and is averaging about 4 1/3 innings per start.
The Blue Springs native gave up four runs in five innings vs. St. Louis on Saturday.
The Cardinals are 74-79 and will almost certainly finish with a losing record for the second time in three seasons, the franchise’s first time doing so since the late 1990s.
The Brewers are 94-59, baseball’s best record by three games entering Friday. They’ve won five of six, taking two of three vs. St. Louis last weekend then sweeping the Angels at home.
They’ve scored eight or more runs in four of their last six games.
The Cardinals have scored three or fewer runs in three of their last four and have tallied the fewest runs in baseball since the break.
Game also airs on KMOV (Channel 4)
Friday’s game, in addition to the usual airing on FanDuel Sports Midwest, also is simulcast on local broadcast television on KMOV (Channel 4). Many other local television stations throughout the Cardinals footprint in six nearby states will also carry the game.
It’s the last of numerous games this season to also be broadcast locally on KMOV and/or Matrix this season and throughout surrounding states on other affiliates.
How to watch Cardinals vs. Brewers
When: 7:15 p.m. Friday
Where: Busch Stadium in St. Louis
TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest (live stream link), KMOV (Channel 4) as well as other stations around the Cardinals footprint; KMOX (1120 AM and 104.1 FM), other stations in the Cardinals Radio Network as well as MLB.tv.
Your options to watch: Input your ZIP code and see your choices for watching Cardinals games.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Brendan Donovan, 2B
2. Iván Herrera, DH
3. Alec Burleson, 1B
4. Nolan Arenado, 3B
5. Lars Nootbaar, LF
6. Thomas Saggese, SS
7. Pedro Pagés, C
8. Jordan Walker, RF
9. Victor Scott II, CF
P: Sonny Gray, RHP
BREWERS
To be updated
P: Jacob Misiorowski, RHP
Injury report
Willson Contreras, 1B (right bicep tightness): Contreras, who had been dealing with pain in his bicep for more than a week, was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday, retroactive to Tuesday. The move ends his season. The bicep tightened up during an at-bat Monday, forcing him to leave the game early. He was hoping to avoid an IL stint. Updated Sept. 16
Zack Thompson, LHP (shoulder, lat strain): Lefty starter remains on a throwing program in Jupiter, trying to overcome some setbacks as he increased the intensity of his throws through the course of the season. He’s visited St. Louis for evaluation to monitor if the injury worsens. Thompson has been sidelined since the start of March and was transferred to the 60-day injured list in early April. There is no timetable for his return to the mound. Updated Aug. 6
Masyn Winn, SS (right meniscus tear): After dealing with ongoing pain in his knee caused by a slight meniscus tear that scratched him from the lineup repeatedly, the Cardinals put Winn on the injured list on Saturday, ending his season. He was attempting to play through the pain after being assured by the medical team that he could not do more damage to the knee. Updated Sept. 13
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