The St. Louis Cardinals welcome the Baltimore Orioles to Busch Stadium on Wednesday, August 26, for a 7:45 PM ET first pitch. Michael McGreevy gets the ball for St. Louis against Baltimore's Kyle Bradish in what shapes up as a compelling interleague regular season matchup. With the dog days of August winding down, every game carries weight in the standings, and the Cardinals will be looking to put together a strong showing in front of the home crowd. Catch the action on Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365 or on KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM.
Pitching Matchup: McGreevy vs. Bradish
Michael McGreevy draws the start for the Cardinals in this one. The right-hander has been part of St. Louis's rotation conversation throughout this season, and Wednesday gives him another opportunity to make a statement against an American League opponent. McGreevy's ability to attack the strike zone and keep the offense off balance will be central to the Cardinals' chances.
Kyle Bradish takes the hill for Baltimore. The Orioles right-hander has shown the kind of stuff that keeps lineups honest, and Cardinals hitters will need to be disciplined early and work counts if they want to get into the Baltimore bullpen. Bradish is not a pitcher you can afford to sleep on.
Keys to Watch for the Cardinals
- Generate traffic against Bradish early. Patient at-bats in the first three innings can expose a starter and force Baltimore's hand with their bullpen sooner rather than later.
- McGreevy's command. Interleague matchups against unfamiliar lineups can cut both ways. If McGreevy is sharp with his location, the Orioles' bats will have a long night at Busch Stadium.
- Leverage the home crowd. Busch Stadium in late August has energy, and the Cardinals have consistently played better baseball at home. The crowd is a factor.
- Bullpen management. If McGreevy encounters trouble, the Cardinals' coaching staff will need to be decisive about when to go to the 'pen rather than letting a bad inning snowball.
Broadcast Information
Wednesday's game is available on Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365 and MASN for television viewers. Radio coverage is on KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM, with Spanish-language coverage available on WIJR AM 880.
Prediction
This is a winnable game for St. Louis at home. McGreevy has the opportunity to outpitch Bradish if he commands his fastball and keeps Baltimore's lineup from getting comfortable. The Cardinals' lineup needs to manufacture runs against a pitcher of Bradish's caliber — patience and situational hitting will determine the outcome. Expect a tight, low-scoring game that comes down to the back half of the bullpen. Cardinals take this one, 3–2.
