The St. Louis Cardinals head to Anaheim to take on the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium on Wednesday, July 22, with first pitch scheduled for 4:07 PM ET. Hunter Dobbins gets the ball for St. Louis against Angels left-hander Reid Detmers. This is a mid-week road matchup that gives the Cardinals a chance to build momentum away from home, and with lineups already posted on both sides, there's plenty to dig into before the first pitch.

Pitching Matchup: Hunter Dobbins vs. Reid Detmers

Dobbins draws the start for St. Louis in what figures to be a significant opportunity for the right-hander to make his case in the Cardinals rotation. He'll be matched up against Reid Detmers, a left-handed starter the Angels have leaned on as a key piece of their pitching staff. Detmers has the home crowd behind him at Angel Stadium, where the Angels will look to use familiar surroundings to their advantage.

Without current ERA or win-loss data available for either starter, the story of this game will be written in real time. Watch for how deep each pitcher can go into the game and whether the bullpens are tested early.

Cardinals Starting Lineup and Players to Watch

Manager Oliver Marmol has set a lineup that mixes youth and experience. JJ Wetherholt leads off at second base, followed by Iván Herrera hitting second as the designated hitter — an interesting construction that puts two contact-oriented options at the top. Jordan Walker slots in third in right field, a spot where he's had opportunities to show his tools this season.

• JJ Wetherholt (2B, leadoff): The young infielder gets the table-setter role and will need to get on base against a left-handed starter.
• Jordan Walker (RF, 3rd): Walker in the heart of the order is a sign the Cardinals want him producing in key situations.
• Alec Burleson (1B, cleanup): Burleson bats fourth and is being counted on to drive in runs against Detmers.
• Masyn Winn (SS, 6th): Winn's defense alone makes him valuable, but the Cardinals need production from the bottom half of this order.
• Blaze Jordan (3B, 8th): Jordan continues to get looks in the lineup — a name Cardinals fans should keep an eye on as the season progresses.

Angels Lineup: Mike Trout Headlines Anaheim's Order

The Angels counter with a lineup that features Mike Trout batting second in center field. Trout's presence alone changes the calculus for any Cardinals pitcher. Zach Neto leads off at shortstop, and Nolan Schanuel hits third at first base. Vaughn Grissom bats cleanup at third base, giving Anaheim a formidable middle of the order that Dobbins will need to navigate carefully.

Jo Adell hits fifth as the designated hitter, and Josh Lowe adds another athletic outfield option in the eight-hole. This is a lineup that can hurt you in multiple spots, not just at the top.

Keys to the Game

• How Dobbins handles Trout: That second-inning at-bat — or any meeting between the two — could define the tone of the game.
• Left-on-left matchups: Detmers as a lefty will test Cardinals hitters. Watch for how Burleson and Walker handle him.
• Bottom of the Cardinals order: José Fermín, Blaze Jordan, and Pedro Pagés need to contribute. If the 7-8-9 spots go quiet, the offense will stall.
• Bullpen depth: Neither starter has posted numbers in this data set, so game-planning for a shorter outing is smart thinking.

Prediction

This one sets up as a competitive, low-scoring affair. Detmers at home with Trout lurking in the lineup makes life difficult for a Cardinals offense that needs its middle of the order to step up. But Dobbins has the opportunity to make a statement, and if Walker and Burleson can do damage against the lefty, St. Louis has the offensive pieces to steal a win on the road. Cardinals 4, Angels 3 in a game that goes down to the final few innings.

Catch the game on KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM locally or on Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365.