Cardinals Phillies rematch puts sixth series win on the line
The St. Louis Cardinals visit Philadelphia for a three-game Cardinals Phillies rematch with a sixth straight series win on the line. St. Louis sits 2.5 games from a playoff spot and 4.5 behind the Phillies’ second Wild Card berth, making this weekend a high-stakes climb in a rebuild season.
Not even two weeks after their last meeting, the clubs meet again for three games. According to Viva El Birdos, a sixth straight series win—paired with losses by the Diamondbacks and Padres—would likely push St. Louis back into the final playoff spot.
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Key Takeaways
- The Cardinals have won five straight series and trail a postseason berth by 2.5 games.
- Philadelphia holds the second Wild Card spot and leads St. Louis by 4.5 games.
- Projected starters: Hunter Dobbins vs. Jesus Luzardo, Andre Pallante vs. Andrew Painter, and Kyle Leahy vs. Cristopher Sanchez.
- Friday’s opener includes Save a Pet at the Park, with adoptable animals at First Base Plaza.
- FanDuel lists the Phillies as home favorites on the Friday moneyline.
Why does a sixth series win matter for the Cardinals Phillies weekend?
St. Louis is still in a rebuild year, yet the club remains in playoff contention and has fans believing an October return is possible. Five straight series wins have kept that hope alive.
Philadelphia currently sits in the second Wild Card spot. Closing that 4.5-game gap starts with taking this rematch series on the road.
The Cardinals’ bullpen remains a season-long “what if,” with 22 blown saves—second most in the majors behind Colorado’s 32. Even so, the standings still give St. Louis a live shot.
Who is projected to start in the three-game set?
Game One pairs Hunter Dobbins against lefty Jesus Luzardo. Dobbins continues a tryout for next season’s rotation, while Luzardo is 11-5 overall and 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and more than a strikeout per inning since the All-Star break.
Game Two features Andre Pallante versus Andrew Painter. Pallante is looking to stay undefeated with an ERA under 3.00 since the break. Painter posted one of his best outings against St. Louis on August 10, then allowed five runs on six hits in five innings in his follow-up start.
Game Three sends Kyle Leahy against All-Star lefty Cristopher Sanchez. Leahy has already surpassed 120 innings after throwing 88 last year and has been limited to five innings in each of his last three starts. Sanchez threw six shutout innings against the Cardinals last series (no-decision) and won his most recent start with six innings of one-run ball versus Miami.
What else is happening around Friday’s Cardinals Phillies opener?
Beyond the pitching board, Friday’s game features Save a Pet at the Park, hosted by Phillies Charities, Inc. Adoptable cats, kittens, puppies, and dogs will meet fans at the First Base Plaza, with related drives benefiting the Pennsylvania SPCA, per MLB.com.
On the betting board, FanDuel Sportsbook has the Phillies as home favorites around -205, with the Cardinals near +172, a 1.5-run line, and a total near eight runs for Friday’s matchup.
Once Sunday ends, St. Louis finally gets a Monday off day after 20 straight games. The schedule eases later with the Orioles and Pirates visiting Busch Stadium to close the month.