The St. Louis Cardinals head west to Angel Stadium on Monday, July 20 for a late-night matchup against the Los Angeles Angels, first pitch set for 10:10 PM ET on ESPN. Kyle Leahy gets the start for St. Louis against Angels right-hander José Soriano. With the Cardinals carrying a lineup that blends young talent and experienced pieces, this is a meaningful opportunity to build momentum heading deeper into the summer. The game is available locally on KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM for Cardinals fans staying up late in St. Louis.

Cardinals vs. Angels Pitching Matchup: Leahy vs. Soriano

Kyle Leahy draws the start for the Cardinals in what figures to be a defining appearance for the right-hander. Leahy has worked his way into the St. Louis rotation and this cross-country assignment against an Angels lineup that includes legitimate offensive threats is a genuine test. How he manages the heart of Anaheim's order — specifically Jorge Soler hitting cleanup and Mike Trout slotted second — will go a long way toward determining the Cardinals' fortunes Monday night.

Soriano takes the ball for the Angels. He's a live arm the Cardinals will need to solve early. St. Louis will want Leahy to keep the game close long enough for the lineup to work through Soriano and get into what figures to be a taxed Angels bullpen late.

Cardinals Lineup: Keys to Watch

Manager Oliver Marmol has constructed a lineup that puts rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt at the top, followed by Iván Herrera in the DH spot. That's an interesting look at the top of the order and one worth monitoring as the Cardinals try to generate early offense on the road.

• JJ Wetherholt (2B, leadoff): The young infielder gets the keys to the lineup. How he handles Soriano's stuff in his first at-bat sets the tone for the entire Cardinals offensive effort.
• Alec Burleson (1B, No. 3): Burleson batting third puts him in a prime run-production spot. His ability to drive in Wetherholt and Herrera will be critical.
• Jordan Walker (RF, cleanup): Walker hitting fourth is a statement of confidence from the Cardinals' dugout. He'll see some of Soriano's best stuff with runners on base — a matchup to watch all night.
• Lars Nootbaar (LF, No. 5): Nootbaar provides a left-handed bat in the middle of the lineup and the Cardinals will need him to be a handful for Soriano and the Angels' relievers.
• Masyn Winn (SS, No. 6): Winn batting sixth keeps the lineup from having a dead spot. His on-base skills matter here, putting pressure on the Angels' pitching staff before Nathan Church and Blaze Jordan come up.

Angels Lineup: Threats Leahy Must Contain

The Angels present a genuine challenge at the plate. Trout in the two-hole is always a concern — Leahy cannot afford to let him beat him with a runner on base. Soler in the cleanup spot adds another layer of danger; the veteran DH has plus power and will punish any fastball left over the plate. Logan O'Hoppe bats ninth and provides a capable bat even at the bottom of the order, meaning Leahy cannot coast once he gets deep into the lineup.

Prediction

This is a tough venue and a late start that historically favors the home team. But the Cardinals' lineup has enough depth to put crooked numbers on the board if Leahy can give them five or six solid innings and keep Trout and Soler from doing damage in the same inning. Expect a competitive, low-scoring game that comes down to the bullpen. Cardinals take it in a close one, 4–3, if Leahy can get through five innings without a crooked number.