The St. Louis Cardinals welcome the Philadelphia Phillies to Busch Stadium on Wednesday, August 12 for a 2:15 PM ET first pitch. Kyle Leahy gets the ball for St. Louis against one of the more established arms in the National League in Zack Wheeler. With the regular season in its stretch run, every game at home carries weight, and this mid-week afternoon matchup gives the Cardinals a chance to see how Leahy handles a veteran-laden Phillies lineup. Catch it on Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365 or listen locally on KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM.

Cardinals vs. Phillies: Wednesday, August 12 Pitching Matchup

The elephant in the room is Zack Wheeler on the other side. Wheeler has been one of the most durable and reliable starters in the NL for several seasons, and Philadelphia will lean on him hard in a game like this. Busch Stadium crowds have seen big-name starters come through before, but Wheeler is the kind of arm that demands a complete offensive effort from the first pitch.

Kyle Leahy draws the assignment for the Cardinals. Leahy is a young arm working to carve out a role in a competitive rotation picture, and a start against a quality opponent like Philadelphia is exactly the kind of test that defines a pitcher's trajectory. How he manages Wheeler's lineup — a group built to do damage against anyone — will be the central storyline on the mound Wednesday afternoon.

St. Louis Cardinals Starting Lineup vs. Philadelphia Phillies

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

Keys to Watch for the Cardinals

Making Wheeler Work Early

Wheeler is most dangerous when he's in rhythm and racking up quick outs. The Cardinals' lineup needs to grind at-bats, work counts, and force him to throw pitches. JJ Wetherholt at the top of the order sets the table — if he can get on base and make Wheeler work in the first inning, it changes the complexion of the whole game.

Jordan Walker in the Middle of the Order

Walker slots in fourth and represents the Cardinals' best power threat in this lineup construction. Against an arm like Wheeler, one big swing can be the difference. Walker has the tools to do damage, and the Cardinals will need him to deliver in a run-scoring opportunity if one presents itself.

Leahy's Command and Pitch Mix

Against a lineup this experienced, Leahy cannot afford to fall behind in counts. Locating his fastball early and mixing in secondary pitches will be essential. If he can keep Philadelphia off the bases for the first time through the order, the Cardinals' bullpen has a chance to handle the back half.

Prediction

Wheeler is a tough draw at any point in the season, and the Cardinals will have to manufacture runs rather than wait for a big inning. Leahy is capable of a solid outing, but the margin for error is thin. Expect a low-scoring game that comes down to late innings. Cards find a way to scratch out a 3-2 win at Busch, but it will not be comfortable.