The St. Louis Cardinals host the Baltimore Orioles at Busch Stadium on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, with first pitch scheduled for 7:45 PM ET. Baltimore sends veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt to the mound, while St. Louis has yet to announce a confirmed starter. It is a regular season matchup that carries weight for both clubs as August winds down and the calendar inches toward the final stretch of the season. Cardinals fans can catch the action on Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365 or listen on KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM.

Cardinals Starting Lineup for August 25 vs. Baltimore

Manager Oliver Marmol has set a lineup that mixes youth and experience throughout the order. JJ Wetherholt leads off at shortstop, with Iván Herrera batting second and catching. Alec Burleson slots in at first base in the three hole, followed by Jordan Walker in right field at cleanup. Joshua Báez starts in left field batting fifth, and Nolan Gorman takes the DH spot batting sixth. Ramón Urías handles third base at seven, Nathan Church starts in center field at eight, and José Fermín rounds out the order at second base.

Pitching Matchup: Bassitt Confirmed, Cardinals Starter TBD

Chris Bassitt is the known quantity in this matchup. The veteran right-hander has been a reliable arm for Baltimore through his career, known for his ability to work deep into games and command multiple pitch types. St. Louis has not confirmed a starter for this game, which is a factor worth monitoring as first pitch approaches. If the Cardinals turn to a bulk reliever or piggyback arrangement, how they manage innings early will be critical against a Baltimore lineup capable of doing damage.

Keys to Watch

• Cardinals lineup versus Bassitt: Bassitt is a crafty veteran who lives off deception and location rather than pure velocity. St. Louis will need patient at-bats and disciplined plate approaches, particularly from the middle of the order — Burleson, Walker, and Báez.
• Cardinals pitching situation: Until St. Louis names a starter, the bullpen management question looms large. The club will need quality innings from whoever takes the ball first to keep the game manageable.
• JJ Wetherholt at the top: The young shortstop leading off is a development worth watching. How he handles a veteran pitcher in Bassitt sets the tone for the entire Cardinals offensive approach each inning.
• Jordan Walker at cleanup: Walker batting fourth signals the Cardinals are leaning on him as a middle-of-the-order presence. His at-bats against Bassitt will be among the most telling of the night.
• Nathan Church in center: Church batting eighth gives the Cardinals a defensive-minded presence in center while keeping the lineup flexible around him.

Prediction

The pitching uncertainty on the Cardinals side is the biggest wild card heading into Tuesday night. Bassitt is a proven arm who will not beat himself, and St. Louis will need to manufacture runs rather than wait for the big inning. That said, the Cardinals lineup has length and the home crowd at Busch Stadium provides a genuine advantage. If St. Louis gets length from its starter — confirmed or otherwise — and Walker or Burleson does damage against Bassitt, this is a game the Cardinals can win. Edge: Cardinals 4, Orioles 3, in a competitive game that comes down to the late innings.