The St. Louis Cardinals host the San Francisco Giants at Busch Stadium on Tuesday, September 15, with first pitch set for 7:45 PM ET. Andre Pallante gets the ball for St. Louis, squaring off against Giants right-hander Blade Tidwell in what shapes up as an intriguing late-season regular season matchup. With September baseball carrying real weight in the standings, this is exactly the kind of home game the Cardinals need to protect. Fans can catch the action on Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365 or listen locally on KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM.

Starting Pitchers: Pallante vs. Tidwell

Andre Pallante draws the start for the Cardinals. The right-hander has carved out a role in St. Louis's rotation through a combination of durability and competitiveness. He works efficiently, relies on ground balls, and gives the Cardinals a chance to stay in ballgames. That profile is exactly what you want from a starter in a tight September contest.

On the other side, Blade Tidwell takes the hill for San Francisco. The Giants' young arm has shown flashes of the stuff that made him a prospect worth tracking. His ability to generate swings and misses will be worth monitoring against a Cardinals lineup that can put the ball in play and make pitchers work deep into counts.

Keys to Watch for the Cardinals

• Make Tidwell work early: The Cardinals need to grind at-bats and get Tidwell's pitch count up before the Giants can turn to their bullpen. Patience at the plate is the priority.
• Pallante's ground-ball game: Busch Stadium rewards pitchers who keep the ball on the ground. If Pallante is getting weak contact and turning double plays, this offense has a chance to win a low-scoring affair.
• Leverage the home crowd: September games at Busch Stadium carry an energy that can shift momentum. The Cardinals have an advantage playing in front of their own fans, and getting runners on base early can ignite the ballpark.
• Bullpen management: If Pallante exits before the seventh, the Cardinals' relievers will need to hold the line. Late-inning execution in September separates contenders from also-rans.

Prediction

This figures to be a tight, low-scoring game. Pallante is capable of giving the Cardinals six competitive innings, and if the offense can crack Tidwell in the middle innings, St. Louis has the tools to win at home. The Cardinals take this one, 4-2, with the Busch Stadium crowd playing a role in keeping the energy where it needs to be in the late innings. September baseball at home. There's nothing better.