The St. Louis Cardinals travel to Citizens Bank Park on Friday, August 21, for a 6:40 PM ET regular-season clash against the Philadelphia Phillies. Jesús Luzardo gets the ball for Philadelphia, while St. Louis has yet to name a starter. The Phillies roll out one of the National League's most dangerous lineups, headlined by Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner, making this a significant test for a Cardinals club leaning heavily on its young core.

Cardinals Starting Pitcher: TBD

St. Louis has not announced a probable starter for Friday's game, which is itself worth watching. Whoever manager Oliver Marmol hands the ball to will step into a hostile environment against a Phillies offense built to punish mistakes. Until the Cardinals name their arm, the pregame focus shifts to the lineup and which young players can hold their own in a tough road spot.

Phillies Starter: Jesús Luzardo

Luzardo gets the nod for Philadelphia. The left-hander is a proven major-league arm capable of working deep into games and missing bats. No current ERA or win-loss figures are available for this preview, but Luzardo represents a genuine challenge for a Cardinals lineup that skews young and largely right-handed.

Cardinals Lineup: Youth Gets the Call

St. Louis sends out a lineup worth examining closely. JJ Wetherholt leads off at shortstop, followed by Iván Herrera at DH and Jordan Walker in right field. Joshua Báez slots in fourth in left, with Blaze Jordan at first base hitting fifth. The bottom of the order features José Fermín at third, Everson Pereira in center, Bryan Torres at second, and Pedro Pagés catching.

This is a young group. The Cardinals are asking several players — Wetherholt, Báez, and Blaze Jordan among them — to perform in a tough road environment. How they handle Luzardo in the early innings will set the tone for the night.

Phillies Lineup: The Threat Is Real

Philadelphia's order is stacked from top to bottom. Schwarber leads off as the DH, Turner bats second at short, and Harper hits third in right field. Luis Arraez sits fourth at second base, bringing a bat that consistently makes contact. Alec Bohm (first base), Bryson Stott (third), Brandon Marsh (left), J.T. Realmuto (catcher), and Justin Crawford (center) round out a deep, balanced lineup. St. Louis's unnamed starter and the bullpen will need to work carefully through this order all nine innings.

Keys to Watch

• Cardinals starter identity: St. Louis naming — or not naming — a starter is the single biggest storyline heading into Friday. Who goes, and how long they last, shapes everything.
• Handling Luzardo early: Cardinals hitters will need to work counts and find gaps. Luzardo can dominate when he gets ahead; St. Louis must not hand him easy first-pitch outs.
• Wetherholt at the top: JJ Wetherholt leading off puts the focus on the rookie's ability to get on base and set the table in a road park that can quiet a visiting offense fast.
• Containing Harper and Schwarber: Those two have the power to put a game out of reach in one swing. Any Cardinals pitcher who falls behind in the count to either hitter is in trouble.

Prediction

The Phillies hold a clear advantage heading into Friday. Their lineup is dangerous top to bottom, Luzardo is a legitimate starter, and Citizens Bank Park is no place for a young Cardinals club to find its footing. Philadelphia wins this one, 5-2. But this Cardinals group has surprised people before — if the unnamed St. Louis starter can keep the Phillies' big bats in check through five innings, St. Louis has enough in the lineup to scratch out something competitive. Watch Blaze Jordan and Jordan Walker to be the difference-makers if the Cardinals are going to steal one on the road.

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