The St. Louis Cardinals host the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at Busch Stadium for a 1:15 PM ET first pitch. Matthew Liberatore takes the ball for St. Louis against Giants right-hander Anthony Molina in what shapes up as a late-season regular-season contest with both clubs looking to close out the calendar strong. With the schedule winding down and September roster implications in play, this is a game neither side can afford to treat as a throwaway.

Starting Pitching Matchup: Liberatore vs. Molina

Matthew Liberatore gets the nod for the Cardinals. The left-hander has been a fixture in St. Louis's rotation and will look to give the club a quality start in a day game setting. Liberatore's ability to work deep into games and limit walks will be critical against a Giants lineup that is willing to grind at-bats.

Anthony Molina gets the assignment for San Francisco. The Giants are handing the ball to Molina in what is a significant regular-season opportunity. How he handles the Cardinals' middle of the order will go a long way toward determining whether the Giants can steal a win on the road at Busch Stadium.

Cardinals Lineup to Watch

Manager Oliver Marmol has set a lineup that features a blend of young talent and experienced bats. JJ Wetherholt leads off at second base, with Leo Bernal hitting second as the designated hitter. Alec Burleson slots in at first base and bats third, followed by Jordan Walker in the cleanup spot in right field. The bottom half of the order features Joshua Báez in left, Nolan Gorman at third, Thomas Saggese at short, Nathan Church in center, and Pedro Pagés catching.

• Jordan Walker (RF, cleanup): Walker hitting fourth signals the Cardinals want his power in the middle of things. Watch whether he can make Molina pay early in counts.
• Nolan Gorman (3B): Gorman's left-handed pop is a weapon against any right-handed starter. If Molina leaves a fastball in the zone, Gorman has the bat speed to punish it.
• JJ Wetherholt (2B, leadoff): The rookie gets the table-setter role. His on-base ability at the top will determine how many times the Cardinals' bigger bats see the ball with runners on.

Giants Lineup to Watch

San Francisco counters with Jonah Cox leading off in center and Bryce Eldridge batting second at first base. Brett Harris hits third at third base, with Jung Hoo Lee in the cleanup role as the designated hitter. Shay Whitcomb bats fifth at second, Turner Hill sixth in left, and Andrew Knizner — familiar to Cardinals fans from his time in St. Louis — slots in at catcher batting seventh. Scott Bandura hits eighth in right and Christian Koss bats ninth at shortstop.

• Jung Hoo Lee (DH, cleanup): Lee is the Giants' most dangerous bat in this lineup. Liberatore will need to be disciplined in how he attacks Lee, particularly with runners on base.
• Andrew Knizner (C): Knizner spent time with the Cardinals organization and will be a familiar face behind the plate for Busch Stadium regulars. Don't expect him to get a warm reception from the Redbird faithful.

Keys to the Game

• Liberatore's ability to limit the Giants' top of the order — Cox and Eldridge — through the early innings will set the tone for the Cardinals' defense and bullpen usage.
• St. Louis needs production from the middle of the order. Walker and Burleson have to make Molina work, particularly in the first two times through the lineup.
• Day game execution at Busch Stadium matters. The Cardinals have enough lineup depth to win this game if the starting pitcher gives them five or six solid innings.

Prediction

Liberatore has enough in his arsenal to keep the Giants off the board in the early frames, and Molina is an unknown quantity on the road in a September environment. The Cardinals' lineup — top to bottom more dynamic than San Francisco's — should generate enough offense to come out ahead. Cardinals win, 4-2.