The St. Louis Cardinals wrap up their road trip in Toronto on Sunday, August 2, when Matthew Liberatore takes the ball against Max Scherzer and the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. First pitch is set for 1:37 PM ET. This is a regular-season game with real standings implications, and the Cardinals will need a strong outing from Liberatore to come away with a series result worth celebrating. Cardinals fans can follow the action on Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365 or on KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM.

Cardinals vs. Blue Jays Pitching Matchup: Liberatore Faces a Veteran Scherzer

Matthew Liberatore gets the start for St. Louis, and the left-hander faces a genuine test against a Blue Jays lineup that is stacked top to bottom. Scherzer, the longtime veteran right-hander, takes the mound for Toronto. Liberatore will need to work efficiently and keep the ball in the park — Rogers Centre has seen its share of offense, and a single crooked number can spiral quickly against a lineup of this caliber.

Cardinals Lineup at Toronto

• Lars Nootbaar, RF
• Jordan Walker, DH
• Alec Burleson, 1B
• Iván Herrera, C
• Masyn Winn, SS
• Bryan Torres, LF
• José Fermín, 2B
• Nathan Church, CF
• Blaze Jordan, 3B

Blue Jays Lineup

• Luis Urías, 2B
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr., DH
• Kazuma Okamoto, 1B
• George Springer, LF
• Alejandro Kirk, C
• Ernie Clement, 3B
• Myles Straw, RF
• Daulton Varsho, CF
• Andrés Giménez, SS

Keys to Watch for St. Louis

Liberatore Must Limit Guerrero Jr. and the Middle of the Order

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hitting second is not an accident — Toronto wants him in scoring position situations early and often. Kazuma Okamoto follows at third and George Springer bats cleanup. That is a legitimate run-producing stretch of the order, and Liberatore cannot afford to issue free passes or leave pitches over the heart of the plate. Command is everything in this matchup.

Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson Need to Make Scherzer Work

Scherzer is a veteran who knows how to put hitters away when he has an edge in the count. The Cardinals' best chance against him is to run up pitch counts early and force him to work deep into at-bats. Walker batting second and Burleson third gives St. Louis two right-handed bats who can drive the ball when they get a pitch to hit. Iván Herrera at cleanup adds another threat, and Masyn Winn batting fifth gives the Cardinals a legitimate run-scoring opportunity if the top of the order gets on base.

Blaze Jordan in the Nine Hole

Blaze Jordan draws the nine spot at third base. The young infielder is in a lineup role where any production he provides is a bonus — but against a veteran pitcher managing his pitch count, Jordan's plate appearances late in games could matter if the Cardinals keep it close.

Prediction

This is a tough road spot for the Cardinals. Scherzer brings experience and a deep arsenal, and the Blue Jays lineup has serious depth from top to bottom. Liberatore is capable of a quality start, but he has to be sharp from the first inning. If St. Louis can get into the Toronto bullpen, this game is winnable. Expect a competitive game — Cardinals 4, Blue Jays 3.