The St. Louis Cardinals host the Chicago White Sox at Busch Stadium on Friday, September 11, with first pitch scheduled for 8:15 PM ET. Matthew Liberatore gets the ball for St. Louis against Chicago's Anthony Kay in a late-season regular season matchup that gives the Cardinals a chance to add another win in the standings. With September already in full swing, every game carries weight, and Busch Stadium will be the stage for what should be a compelling pitching duel between two lefties working to prove their value down the stretch.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Liberatore vs. Kay

Matthew Liberatore draws the start for the Cardinals. The left-hander has been a fixture in the St. Louis rotation and will look to give the bullpen a rest with a deep, efficient outing. Liberatore's ability to mix his arsenal and generate weak contact will be tested against a White Sox lineup looking to close out the road trip on a high note.

Anthony Kay gets the nod for Chicago. The left-handed starter will face a Cardinals offense that plays best when it works counts and puts the ball in play. Kay's assignment is straightforward: limit damage and keep the White Sox competitive deep into the game.

Keys to Watch in Friday's Game

Cardinals Offense Against a Left-Handed Starter

Facing a left-hander gives the Cardinals an opportunity to lean on right-handed bats in the lineup. How St. Louis constructs its lineup and attacks Kay early in counts will go a long way toward determining whether this is a high-scoring night or a grind-it-out affair.

Liberatore's Command and Pitch Mix

For Liberatore, command is everything. When he locates his fastball and complements it with his breaking ball, he can keep lineups off balance for six or more innings. A sharp outing here would be a significant statement in a pennant-race month.

Bullpen Management

With September rosters expanded, both clubs have arms available. How each manager deploys his bullpen — and at what point in the game — could be the deciding factor if the starters don't go deep.

How to Watch Cardinals vs. White Sox

• TV (St. Louis): KMOV-4 and Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365
• TV (Chicago): Chicago Sports Network
• Radio (St. Louis): KMOX 1120 AM / 104.1 FM
• Radio (Chicago): ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000 AM
• Radio (En Español): WIJR AM 880

Prediction

Liberatore has the home-field advantage and the backing of a Busch Stadium crowd that has shown up all season. Kay is capable of a solid outing, but the Cardinals lineup has enough right-handed depth to make life difficult against a left-hander. Look for St. Louis to manufacture runs in the middle innings and for Liberatore to give the club six innings of quality work. Cardinals win, 4–2.