The St. Louis Cardinals host the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at Busch Stadium for a 5:15 PM ET first pitch. Michael McGreevy gets the ball for St. Louis against Arizona right-hander Brandon Pfaadt in what shapes up as an intriguing pitching matchup. With the regular season in full swing, every home game at Busch Stadium carries real weight in the standings, and the Cardinals will be looking to protect their turf against a Diamondbacks club that is never easy to dismiss.
Probable Pitchers: McGreevy vs. Pfaadt
Michael McGreevy draws the start for the Cardinals. The young right-hander has been part of St. Louis's rotation conversation since his debut, and starts like this one — at home, against a legitimate National League opponent — are the kind of opportunities that define a pitcher's season. McGreevy will need to command the strike zone and keep Arizona's lineup off-balance from the first inning on.
Opposing him is Brandon Pfaadt, who has established himself as a reliable arm in Arizona's rotation. Pfaadt has the arsenal to give lineups trouble, mixing his fastball with a breaking ball that can generate swing-and-miss when he's on. Cardinals hitters will need to be disciplined early and make Pfaadt work deep into counts to get to the Arizona bullpen.
Keys to Watch for the Cardinals
- McGreevy's command: How McGreevy handles pressure situations early will set the tone. If he falls behind hitters, Arizona's lineup has the patience to make him pay.
- Capitalizing at Busch Stadium: Home games are an advantage the Cardinals need to use. The crowd at Busch can be a genuine factor, and St. Louis should feed off that energy.
- Disciplined at-bats against Pfaadt: Pfaadt is at his best when he's working ahead in the count. Cardinals hitters who stay patient and foul off tough pitches will give the offense its best chance to break through.
- Bullpen management: If McGreevy doesn't go deep into the game, how St. Louis deploys its relief arms could be the difference in a close contest.
Broadcast Information
Cardinals fans can catch the game on Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365 or listen on KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM. Spanish-language coverage is available on WIJR AM 880. Arizona's broadcast is available on DBACKS.TV. ESPN 620 AM will also carry the game.
Prediction
This is the kind of pitching matchup that tends to stay close into the middle innings. McGreevy has the stuff to compete with Pfaadt, but he'll need to be sharp. Give the edge to the Cardinals at home — Busch Stadium provides a boost, and if St. Louis's offense can get to Pfaadt by the fifth or sixth inning, the Cardinals find a way to win a low-scoring game, 3-2.
