The St. Louis Cardinals welcome the Atlanta Braves to Busch Stadium on Friday, July 10, 2026, for a 8:15 PM ET first pitch. Kyle Leahy gets the ball for St. Louis against a Braves lineup anchored by Matt Olson and Austin Riley, with veteran left-hander Chris Sale taking the mound for Atlanta. It's a marquee summer matchup between two National League clubs, broadcast nationally on Apple TV and locally on KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM and 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan.

Cardinals vs. Braves Pitching Matchup: Leahy Faces Sale on Friday

Kyle Leahy draws one of the tougher assignments a young arm can get — facing Chris Sale, a pitcher who has built a reputation over more than a decade of big-league service on the strength of a devastating slider and elite strikeout stuff. Leahy will need to work efficiently and keep the Braves' middle of the order from doing damage early. For the Cardinals, this start is an opportunity for Leahy to prove he belongs in meaningful games against legitimate competition.

Sale, meanwhile, gives Atlanta a clear advantage at the top of the pitching matchup. The Cardinals' lineup will need to be disciplined and work pitch counts if they want to get into the Atlanta bullpen.

Cardinals Lineup: Wetherholt Leads Off, Walker and Velázquez in the Heart

Manager Oliver Marmol has JJ Wetherholt leading off at second base, with Iván Herrera batting second as the designated hitter. Jordan Walker slots in third at right field, and Nelson Velázquez bats cleanup in left — a construction that puts two young, athletic outfielders at the center of the Cardinals' offensive hopes Friday night.

• JJ Wetherholt, 2B
• Iván Herrera, DH
• Jordan Walker, RF
• Nelson Velázquez, LF
• Alec Burleson, 1B
• Masyn Winn, SS
• José Fermín, CF
• Blaze Jordan, 3B
• Pedro Pagés, C

Alec Burleson at first and Masyn Winn at short round out the middle of the order, while Blaze Jordan at third and Pedro Pagés behind the plate give St. Louis solid depth in the bottom half. José Fermín draws the center field assignment and bats seventh.

Braves Lineup: Olson, Riley, and Albies Provide a Tough Test

Atlanta presents a balanced lineup that can hurt you in multiple ways. Michael Harris II leads off in center, with Ozzie Albies batting second. Matt Olson hits third at first base — he's the kind of presence that can change a game with one swing. Drake Baldwin catches and bats fourth, followed by Mauricio Dubón in left and Mike Yastrzemski in right.

• Michael Harris II, CF
• Ozzie Albies, 2B
• Matt Olson, 1B
• Drake Baldwin, C
• Mauricio Dubón, LF
• Mike Yastrzemski, RF
• Austin Riley, 3B
• Dominic Smith, DH
• Jim Jarvis, SS

Austin Riley drops to seventh in this configuration, but he remains a threat any time he steps to the plate. Dominic Smith handles the DH role and Jim Jarvis bats ninth at shortstop.

Keys to Watch in Cardinals-Braves at Busch Stadium

• Leahy's efficiency early: If Leahy labors deep into counts against a disciplined Braves lineup, St. Louis's bullpen will be tested. Getting through five or six innings cleanly is the benchmark.
• Walker and Velázquez versus Sale: The Cardinals' two-through-four hitters will face stiff competition from a lefty who knows how to dominate. How those at-bats go will likely shape the Cardinals' offensive night.
• Wetherholt on base: The Cardinals' leadoff man sets the table. If Wetherholt is reaching and creating pressure at the top of innings, St. Louis's offense has a better chance of stringing things together against Sale.
• Neutralizing Olson: Matt Olson has a track record of punishing mistakes. Leahy cannot afford to leave pitches over the heart of the plate when Olson steps in.

Prediction: Braves Hold Edge with Sale on the Mound

Chris Sale is a difficult draw for any lineup, and the Cardinals will need a sharp performance from Leahy just to keep it close. Atlanta's experience and pitching edge give the Braves a slight advantage Friday night. That said, Busch Stadium crowds have a way of energizing this Cardinals club, and if Walker or Velázquez can get to Sale early, St. Louis has the firepower to make this a game. Expect a tight contest, but lean Atlanta, 4-2.