Cardinals Angels open three-game series in Anaheim Monday
The St. Louis Cardinals open a three-game series at the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim on Monday night, with Kyle Leahy facing José Soriano. The Cardinals Angels matchup pits a Wild Card-hunting St. Louis club against an AL West cellar-dweller now led by former Cardinals executive John Mozeliak.
Key Takeaways
- Monday’s Cardinals Angels opener features Kyle Leahy (7-4, 3.73 ERA) against José Soriano (8-6, 3.49 ERA) at Angel Stadium.
- The Angels sit at 38-61 in the AL West; St. Louis is 51-47 and still in the Wild Card picture.
- Zach Neto leads Los Angeles with 19 home runs, just ahead of Mike Trout’s 18.
- First pitch is set for 10:00 p.m. ET on Monday, July 20, 2026, with ESPN carrying the game.
St. Louis continues a westward swing into Anaheim for three games against a struggling Angels team. According to a Viva El Birdos series preview, the Angels are now led by John Mozeliak, formerly the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations.
That twist alone makes the Cardinals Angels visit unusual theater. St. Louis arrives after a painful loss in Arizona and before a long homestand, so the road series is a chance to reset.
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Who starts in the Cardinals Angels pitching matchups?
Expected starters, per MLB.com as cited by Viva El Birdos, line up like this. Monday: Leahy versus Soriano. Tuesday: Matthew Liberatore (5-6, 5.00 ERA) versus Walbert Ureña (5-7, 2.88 ERA). Wednesday: Michael McGreevy (4-7, 2.92 ERA) versus Reid Detmers (3-6, 4.16 ERA).
Leahy’s season line is solid, but Fox News OutKick notes his road ERA (4.69) is much higher than his home mark (2.94). Soriano has been reliable for Los Angeles with a 3.49 ERA and 1.29 WHIP.
Why does this Cardinals Angels series matter right now?
Records tell the story. The Angels are cellar-dwellers at 38-61 and had lost four straight entering Sunday. Fox News OutKick frames them as roughly 22 games under .500 and unlikely contenders, even with Mike Trout still in the mix.
St. Louis, at 51-47, is chasing October. Jordan Walker’s Home Run Derby win added buzz, but the rotation remains a deadline question. On paper, Anaheim looks like a soft spot—if the Cardinals do not overlook Trout and company.
Angels hitters to watch include Neto (19 homers), Trout (18), Jo Adell (53 RBI, 13 homers), and Nolan Schanuel (.280 average). Los Angeles also has a lengthy injured list that includes Travis d’Arnaud, Adam Frazier, Yusei Kikuchi, Yoán Moncada, and others.
What are the Cardinals Angels odds and picks saying?
Covers lists St. Louis around +101 to +104 on the moneyline and favors the Cardinals, citing Leahy’s recent form and a softer Angels hard-hit rate. The same preview leans Under, noting neither offense is thriving and power numbers have been down.
Fox News OutKick takes the opposite lean through five innings, backing the home Angels because of travel, Leahy’s road splits, and Soriano’s reliability. Weather in Anaheim is expected to be clear with light winds and little rain risk.
Bottom line: the Cardinals Angels series is a must-watch midweek set for St. Louis’s playoff hopes and a measuring stick for a rebuilding Angels club in Anaheim.