The St. Louis Cardinals welcome the Philadelphia Phillies to Busch Stadium on Monday, August 10, for a 7:45 PM ET first pitch. Hunter Dobbins gets the ball for St. Louis against Andrew Painter, one of the more intriguing young arms in the National League. The game airs nationally on FS1 and locally on Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365, with radio coverage on KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM. This is a mid-August matchup between two clubs with legitimate playoff aspirations — every game from here to the finish line carries weight.

Cardinals vs. Phillies Pitching Matchup: Dobbins vs. Painter

Hunter Dobbins draws the start for the Cardinals. The right-hander has been part of St. Louis's pitching mix this season, and Monday night gives him a high-profile opportunity against a Phillies lineup that can make any pitcher pay for mistakes. How Dobbins attacks hitters early in the count and manages traffic on the bases will be the central storyline on the Cardinals' side of the ball.

On the other side, Andrew Painter takes the mound for Philadelphia. Painter has been one of the more closely watched young starters in baseball, and facing a Cardinals lineup at home will tell us something real about where he is right now. The Cardinals need to make him work deep into counts and not let him settle into a rhythm early.

St. Louis Cardinals Starting Lineup for August 10

• JJ Wetherholt, 2B
• Iván Herrera, DH
• Alec Burleson, 1B
• Jordan Walker, RF
• Nathan Church, CF
• Masyn Winn, SS
• José Fermín, LF
• Jimmy Crooks, C
• César Prieto, 3B

Keys to Watch for the Cardinals

Burleson and Walker in the Middle of the Order

Alec Burleson hitting third and Jordan Walker cleaning up fourth gives the Cardinals a left-right combination that can exploit any pitching tendency. If Painter has a weakness, this is the part of the lineup that will find it. Walker in particular has the kind of raw power that makes middle-of-the-order pitching uncomfortable at Busch Stadium.

Wetherholt at the Top Sets the Tone

JJ Wetherholt leading off is worth watching closely. The second baseman's ability to get on base and create pressure at the top of the order directly affects how much damage the Burleson-Walker tandem can do. A productive Wetherholt at the plate changes the entire complexion of an inning.

Dobbins Controlling the Strike Zone

Against a lineup as dangerous as Philadelphia's, Dobbins cannot afford to be generous with walks or fall behind in counts. His ability to throw strikes early and keep the Phillies' hitters off-balance will determine whether the Cardinals' defense has a chance to do its job behind him.

Prediction

This is the kind of game Busch Stadium was built for — a legitimate opponent, a summer night, and two young pitchers who have something to prove. The Cardinals' lineup has enough depth to put crooked numbers on the board if Painter shows any vulnerability. Give the edge to St. Louis at home. Cardinals win, 4–2.