NL CENTRAL STANDINGS

TeamW-LGBStrk
Cubs17-9-W10
Reds17-9-W1
Pirates15-112.0W1
Cardinals14-112.5L2
Brewers13-123.5L3

AL WEST STANDINGS

TeamW-LGBStrk
Athletics14-12-W1
Rangers13-131.0L1
Angels12-152.5L1
Mariners12-152.5W2
Astros10-174.5L1

RECENT RESULTS (LAST 10)

DateOppH/AResult
Apr 24SEAHomeL 2-3
Apr 22MIAAwayL 1-4
Apr 21MIAAwayW 5-3
Apr 20MIAAwayL 3-5
Apr 19HOUAwayW 7-5 (10)
Apr 18HOUAwayW 7-5
Apr 17HOUAwayW 9-4
Apr 15CLEHomeW 5-3
Apr 14CLEHomeW 6-5 (10)
Apr 13CLEHomeL 3-9

STARTING PITCHERS

Matthew Liberatore (L) -- STL

2026 to date: 0-1, 3.67 ERA, 27.0 IP, 16 K, 10 BB, 1.41 WHIP across 5 starts. 13.7% K%, 8.5% BB%, 41.3% GB%. 2025 baseline: 18.8% K%, 6.2% BB%, 3.05 K/BB across 151.2 IP. The walk rate has crept up early in 2026 -- the swing variable tonight.

Bryan Woo (R) -- SEA

2026 to date: 1-2, 2.25 ERA, 32.0 IP, 26 K, 6 BB, 0.88 WHIP across 5 starts. 21.1% K%, 4.9% BB%, 34.3% GB%. 2025 baseline: 27.1% K%, 4.9% BB%, 5.50 K/BB across 186.2 IP. K-rate is off his career mark, but command is intact.

EXPECTED LINEUPS

Cardinals (From active roster)

13 players listed from active roster pool. Actual game lineup will be 9 from this group.

PlayerPosBats
Burleson1BL
HerreraCR
WetherholtSSL
WalkerRFR
Fermín2BR
WinnSSR
ChurchLFL
Gorman2BL
PagésCR
Urías3BR
Saggese2BR
ScottCFL
PozoCR

Handedness: 8 RHB (Herrera, Walker, Fermín, Winn, Pagés, Urías, Saggese, Pozo), 5 LHB (Burleson, Wetherholt, Church, Gorman, Scott).

Mariners (From active roster)

13 players listed from active roster pool. Actual game lineup will be 9 from this group.

PlayerPosBats
RaleighCS
Young2BL
Joe1BR
CanzoneRFL
CrawfordSSL
Naylor1BL
RodríguezCFR
Rivas2BS
RaleyRFL
GarverCR
ArozarenaLFR
RefsnyderRFR
Wilson3BR

Handedness: 6 RHB (Joe, Rodríguez, Garver, Arozarena, Refsnyder, Wilson), 5 LHB (Young, Canzone, Crawford, Naylor, Raley).

INJURIES & ROSTER NOTES

No Phase 2 injury web search performed for this run. Consult the Cardinals and Mariners official injury reports prior to first pitch for any late scratches or roster moves.

2A: BVP -- CARDINALS BATTERS VS OPPONENT STARTER

PlayerPAABHAVGOBPSLGHRBBK
Ivan Herrera331.333.333.333000
Alec Burleson331.333.3331.333101
Nolan Gorman220.000.000.000002
Jordan Walker220.000.000.000001
Victor Scott220.000.000.000001
Thomas Saggese220.000.000.000002
Masyn Winn220.000.000.000001

Small sample: Ivan Herrera (3 PA), Alec Burleson (3 PA), Nolan Gorman (2 PA), Jordan Walker (2 PA), Victor Scott (2 PA), Thomas Saggese (2 PA), Masyn Winn (2 PA).

Tiny samples dominate. Burleson's HR in 3 PA and Herrera's hit in 3 PA are eye-catching but statistically meaningless. Five of seven listed batters have struck out in their two PA. The Cardinals are essentially facing Woo blind tonight.

Bench note: Wetherholt, Church, Fermin, Pages, Urias, Pozo -- No data. No significant bench BvP history against Woo.

2B: BVP -- OPPONENT BATTERS VS CARDINALS STARTER

PlayerPAABHAVGOBPSLGHRBBK
Josh Naylor882.250.250.625100
Randy Arozarena652.400.3331.000100
Cal Raleigh330.000.000.000000
Mitch Garver421.500.7501.000020
Rob Refsnyder221.500.500.500001
Connor Joe321.500.6671.000010
Julio Rodriguez220.000.000.000000
Luke Raley110.000.000.000000

Small sample: Josh Naylor (8 PA), Randy Arozarena (6 PA), Cal Raleigh (3 PA), Mitch Garver (4 PA), Rob Refsnyder (2 PA), Connor Joe (3 PA), Julio Rodriguez (2 PA), Luke Raley (1 PA).

Naylor is the standout (8 PA, 1 HR, 0 K, 0 BB, .625 SLG) -- a real sample, and he homered last night. Arozarena (6 PA, 1 HR, .400 / 1.000 SLG) is the second danger bat with track record. Garver, Refsnyder, and Joe show strong rate stats in 2-4 PA samples -- noisy but trending. Raleigh is 0-for-3 with no whiffs against Liberatore -- contact, but no production yet.

Bench note: Young, Canzone, Crawford, Rivas, Wilson -- No data. The relevant SEA bats with Liberatore history are already in the table.

2C: PLATOON SPLITS -- CARDINALS

PlayerPAAVGOBPSLGHRBBK
Alec Burleson L419.296.353.478153259
Masyn Winn R374.251.309.36872371
Victor Scott L332.221.310.31753175
Ivan Herrera R328.268.343.399102466
Nolan Gorman L309.201.294.349937111
Jordan Walker R289.200.263.29142194
Pedro Pagés R276.225.264.36491272
Ramon Urias R273.233.278.36771757
Thomas Saggese R227.254.305.34011563
Yohel Pozo R126.217.254.3584616
José Fermín R59.280.379.420178
Nathan Church L51.114.216.1821314

2025 vs RHP: Burleson (.296 / .353 / .478, 419 PA) is the top RHP hitter in this group -- the at-bat to lean on against Woo. Fermin (.280 in 59 PA) profiles well in his small sample. Walker (.200, 289 PA) and Gorman (.201 / .294 / .349, 309 PA) are the structural concerns -- both will see Woo's K-rate-heavy stuff. Church (.114 in 51 PA) is the LHB bat that becomes a matchup question if leverage rises late.

2C: PLATOON SPLITS -- OPPONENT

PlayerPAAVGOBPSLGHRBBK
Cal Raleigh B214.284.350.680231865
Randy Arozarena R210.238.290.44691153
Josh Naylor L205.281.322.42761137
Julio Rodriguez R191.249.304.480101448
Mitch Garver R165.236.327.40051939
Rob Refsnyder R144.289.389.53772034
Dominic Canzone L69.271.362.3391815
Cole Young L67.220.313.3220714
Will Wilson R49.220.304.3170418
Leo Rivas B43.316.395.368057
Connor Joe R40.147.250.176048
Luke Raley L36.094.194.1250310

2025 vs LHP: Cal Raleigh switch-hits, but his LHP slug (.680, 23 HR in 214 PA) is the most extreme platoon profile in either lineup tonight. Refsnyder (.289 / .389 / .537) and Naylor (.281 / .322 / .427) round out the top threats. Raley (.094 / .194 / .125 in 36 PA) and Joe (.147 in 40 PA) are exploitable holes if Liberatore avoids the middle. With five LHB facing a LHP, expect Seattle to lift Raley early if leverage rises.

2D: PITCHER PLATOON SPLITS

PitchervsPAAVGOBPSLGOPSHRK
Matthew Liberatorevs RHB515.265.304.426.6911693
Matthew Liberatorevs LHB133.274.348.410.684329
Bryan Woovs LHB381.193.253.343.5361289
Bryan Woovs RHB373.208.240.360.56814112

Liberatore is roughly even across hands (.691 OPS vs RHB, .684 vs LHB) -- platoon is not a real lever. Woo punishes both sides too (.536 vs LHB, .568 vs RHB), with elite K-rate vs RHB (112 K in 373 PA, 30.0%). The Cardinals' 8 RHB / 5 LHB mix doesn't change Woo's job: he attacks everyone, and the Cards' R-handed bats face the higher whiff exposure.

2D-HA: PITCHER HOME/AWAY SPLITS

PitcherSplitBFIPERAKBBHR
Matthew LiberatoreAway33476.04.03592611
Matthew LiberatoreHome31475.23.6963148
Bryan WooAway406101.13.201012214
Bryan WooHome34890.22.381001712

Today is at Busch Stadium -- Liberatore at home (3.69 ERA, 75.2 IP, 14 BB) historically pitches the cleaner game vs his road work (4.03 ERA, 26 BB in 76.0 IP). Walks are the big split. Woo is on the road tonight (3.20 ERA away vs 2.38 at home) -- still strong, but the road sample shows slightly elevated HR risk (14 HR in 101.1 IP).

2E: TTO SPLITS (TIMES THROUGH ORDER)

PitcherTTOPAAVGSLGOPSHRKBB
Matthew LiberatoreTTO1264.237.376.61385615
Matthew LiberatoreTTO2252.310.511.82194017
Matthew LiberatoreTTO3132.244.353.5972268
Bryan WooTTO1292.223.342.56568216
Bryan WooTTO2271.181.324.50597711
Bryan WooTTO3191.194.406.600114212

Liberatore's 2025 TTO2 line (.310 AVG / .511 SLG / .821 OPS in 252 PA) is the obvious vulnerability -- second-pass innings 4-6 are when his stuff stops missing bats. Woo's 2025 TTO pattern is unusual: TTO2 is his BEST stretch (.181 / .505), but TTO3 power spikes (.406 SLG, 11 HR in 191 PA). The Cardinals' offensive window opens late if they push Woo into a third pass.

2F: INHERITED RUNNERS PROFILE

RelieverIRScoredStrand%
Kyle Leahy291162.1%
JoJo Romero26388.5%
Matt Svanson261350.0%
Gordon Graceffo11554.5%
Riley O'Brien10370.0%
Ryan Fernandez8450.0%
Michael McGreevy30100.0%

Romero (88.5% strand on 26 IR) is the cleanest mid-inning option; McGreevy's 100% (3 IR) is too small to lean on but trending. Svanson, Graceffo, and Fernandez (50.0% / 54.5% / 50.0%) are the leak points -- entering with traffic is when this bullpen gives runs back. League average strand rate: ~68-72%.

2G: BATTED BALL MATCHUP

Pitcher Batted Ball Profiles (Career)

PitcherBIPGB%FB%LD%
Matthew Liberatore46339.1%31.3%27.6%
Bryan Woo48343.1%32.3%23.4%

Hitter Batted Ball Results (Career) -- SEA

HitterGB AVGLD AVGFB AVG
Randy Arozarena.322.543.098
Dominic Canzone.326.615.064
Mitch Garver.266.632.074
Connor Joe.200.500.125
Josh Naylor.263.634.150
Cal Raleigh.264.667.056
Luke Raley.169.680.133
Rob Refsnyder.241.733.118
Leo Rivas.276.600.148
Julio Rodriguez.282.589.104
Will Wilson.333.778.105
Cole Young.254.564.062

Both starters carry balanced career batted-ball profiles with mild GB lean: Liberatore 39.1% GB / 31.3% FB / 27.6% LD; Woo 43.1% / 32.3% / 23.4%. SEA's hitters punish line drives -- Refsnyder (.733 LD AVG), Wilson (.778), Raley (.680), Raleigh (.667), Naylor (.634), Garver (.632) -- most of the lineup squares balls at elite rates when contact happens. The angle: keep Seattle off balance and inside the GB zone, where SEA hits a more pedestrian .263 - .333.

2H: BATTERY PAIRING

CatcherGIPERAAVGOBPSLG
Pedro Pagés1575.23.93.279----
Yohel Pozo1263.24.10.259----
Jimmy Crooks211.02.45.225----

Pages and Pozo are both on tonight's active roster. Pages is the most likely starter behind the plate with Liberatore (15 G / 75.2 IP / 3.93 ERA together). Pozo (12 G / 63.2 IP / 4.10) is the backup. Jimmy Crooks appears in this table but is NOT on the active roster -- the 2.45 ERA / 11.0 IP line reflects a prior assignment and is not predictive for tonight. Tonight's catcher is Pages or Pozo.

2I: BASERUNNING MATCHUP

Naylor (30 SB, 2 CS, 93.8%): the lineup's most efficient runner. Treat as automatic if he reaches second.

Arozarena (31 SB, 6 CS, 83.8%): volume runner; less efficient than Naylor but a constant pressure point.

Rodriguez (30 SB, 6 CS, 83.3%): the speed/power threat at the top of the order.

Raleigh (14 SB, 4 CS, 77.8%): a catcher who runs at a 77.8% clip is a surprising leverage piece.

Rivas (6 SB, 0 CS), Garver (3, 0), Refsnyder (3, 0), Wilson (2, 0): 100% on small samples -- watch trail runners advancing on contact.

2J: DEFENSIVE CONTEXT

PlayerPOSGDPEFld%
Victor ScottCF136360.982
Masyn WinnSS1296430.994
Pedro PagésC110650.994
Jordan WalkerRF108240.981
Ramon Urias3B782040.979
Nolan Gorman3B541160.950
Alec Burleson1B502740.990
Yohel PozoC46050.982
Alec BurlesonLF41001.000
Thomas Saggese2B352440.973
Alec BurlesonRF34110.983
Thomas SaggeseSS33710.988
Nolan Gorman2B28910.990
Ramon Urias2B26701.000
Thomas Saggese3B18020.939
Nathan ChurchCF18001.000
José Fermín2B15501.000
Ivan HerreraC14010.989
Nathan ChurchRF7010.833
Victor ScottRF7001.000
Nolan Gorman1B7401.000
Yohel Pozo1B6201.000
Nathan ChurchLF5001.000
José Fermín3B5001.000
Victor ScottLF4001.000
José FermínLF4001.000
Ivan HerreraLF4001.000
Ramon Urias1B3001.000
Pedro Pagés1B2101.000
Alec BurlesonP100--
Pedro Pagés2B1001.000
José FermínRF1001.000

Winn (.994 at SS, 64 DP) and Pages (.994 at C) anchor up the middle. Walker has 4 errors in 108 RF games (.981) -- a soft spot in the right-field corner if Woo's K-rate dips and balls find the outfield. Gorman at 3B (.950 in 54 G) is the infield liability if he plays there tonight; Saggese at 3B (.939 in 18 G) is a deeper concern still.

2K: BALLPARK CONTEXT & HEAD-TO-HEAD

Cardinals vs Mariners head-to-head: 0-3 in 2025, 1-2 in 2024, 1-2 in 2023 -- 2-7 over the last three seasons. Busch Stadium plays as a neutral venue with no extreme handedness or HR-park lean to factor into tonight's decision tree.

2L: BATTER K%/BB% PROFILE

Cardinals

PlayerPAKK%BBBB%
Alec Burleson5447914.5%397.2%
Masyn Winn53710219.0%346.3%
Victor Scott46311124.0%429.1%
Ivan Herrera4508418.7%439.6%
Nolan Gorman40213633.8%4711.7%
Jordan Walker39612631.8%297.3%
Ramon Urias3918822.5%276.9%
Pedro Pagés38910727.5%194.9%
Thomas Saggese2958328.1%165.4%
Yohel Pozo1682213.1%74.2%
José Fermín701014.3%811.4%
Nathan Church651827.7%34.6%

Cardinals contact tier (2025 K%): Pozo 13.1%, Fermin 14.3%, Burleson 14.5% -- the bats most likely to put Woo's stuff in play. Power tier risks (2025 K%): Gorman 33.8%, Walker 31.8% face the highest whiff exposure tonight against a 27.1% 2025 K% pitcher.

Mariners

PlayerPAKK%BBBB%
Julio Rodriguez71015221.4%446.2%
Randy Arozarena70919126.9%649.0%
Cal Raleigh70518826.7%9713.8%
Josh Naylor6008313.8%488.0%
Mitch Garver2908027.6%3010.3%
Dominic Canzone2685922.0%207.5%
Cole Young2574718.3%2810.9%
Luke Raley2196429.2%198.7%
Rob Refsnyder2095425.8%2411.5%
Leo Rivas1112421.6%2018.0%
Will Wilson913437.4%77.7%
Connor Joe802025.0%78.8%

Mariners discipline anchors (2025): Raleigh 13.8% BB% (.680 SLG vs LHP) and Naylor 13.8% K% are the patient, contact-strong bats. Wilson's 37.4% 2025 K% is the lineup hole if Liberatore catches him. Rivas's 18.0% 2025 BB% is the highest in the lineup -- a leadoff ladder if used.

2M: BATTER BATTED BALL PROFILE

Cardinals

PlayerBIPGB%FB%LD%
Alec Burleson39842.0%33.4%24.6%
Masyn Winn37639.6%34.0%26.3%
Ivan Herrera28552.6%21.8%25.6%
Victor Scott25940.2%32.0%27.8%
Ramon Urias25345.1%29.2%25.7%
Pedro Pagés24344.9%30.9%24.3%
Jordan Walker23148.9%29.4%21.6%
Nolan Gorman19930.2%41.7%28.1%
Thomas Saggese18941.8%29.6%28.6%
Yohel Pozo13340.6%33.1%26.3%
José Fermín4637.0%32.6%30.4%
Nathan Church3767.6%21.6%10.8%

Cardinals air-game outlier: Gorman (41.7% 2025 FB%). Extreme ground-ball bat: Church (67.6% 2025 GB%) -- a poor collision with Woo's career 43.1% GB profile. Herrera also tilts ground (52.6% 2025 GB%).

Mariners

PlayerBIPGB%FB%LD%
Julio Rodriguez49351.1%27.2%21.7%
Josh Naylor47748.6%27.9%23.5%
Randy Arozarena42446.9%31.4%21.7%
Cal Raleigh37429.4%47.3%23.3%
Dominic Canzone19148.2%24.6%27.2%
Cole Young17139.2%38.0%22.8%
Mitch Garver17037.6%40.0%22.4%
Rob Refsnyder12247.5%27.9%24.6%
Luke Raley11451.8%26.3%21.9%
Leo Rivas7140.8%38.0%21.1%
Connor Joe5040.0%32.0%28.0%
Will Wilson4334.9%44.2%20.9%

Mariners batted-ball spread (2025): Raleigh 47.3% FB%, Wilson 44.2%, Garver 40.0% are the air-game bats -- aligned with their elite LD AVG damage. Liberatore's career 39.1% GB / 31.3% FB profile means SEA's elevated FB% bats can lift him; that is the structural threat in this matchup.

2N: PITCHER K%/BB% PROFILE

PitcherIPKK%BBBB%K/BB
Bryan Woo186.219827.1%364.9%5.50
Matthew Liberatore151.212218.8%406.2%3.05

Woo's 2025 K/BB ratio of 5.50 is elite (27.1% K% / 4.9% BB%). 2026 to date: 21.1% K% / 4.9% BB% across 32.0 IP -- the K-rate is off a tick but command is intact. Liberatore's 2025 K/BB is 3.05 (18.8% K% / 6.2% BB%); 2026 to date 13.7% / 8.5% across 27.0 IP -- the walk rate has crept up. The K-rate gap defines this matchup: Woo will work in the zone, Liberatore is riding a thinner margin.

KEY MATCHUPS & WATCHLIST

Naylor vs Liberatore. 8 PA, 1 HR, 0 K, 0 BB, .625 SLG career (Section 2B). Naylor homered in last night's win (Section 0a). The most repeatable threat against tonight's starter.

Cal Raleigh vs LHP. .284 AVG / .350 OBP / .680 SLG with 23 HR in 214 PA in 2025 (Section 2C). Switch-hitter; the LHP side is where the slug lives. Tonight's most lopsided platoon advantage in either lineup.

Burleson and the Cards' contact tier vs Woo. Burleson's 14.5% 2025 K% (Section 2L) is the contact profile that survives Woo's 27.1% 2025 K% (Section 2N). Pair him with Fermin (14.3%), Pozo (13.1%), and Winn (19.0%) -- the only realistic offensive path tonight.

Refsnyder vs LHP (bench). .289 / .389 / .537 with 7 HR in 144 PA in 2025 (Section 2C). The R-handed bench bat that punishes Liberatore if SEA reaches into platoon decisions late.

WATCHLIST

-- Woo TTO3 power. .194 2025 AVG but .406 SLG and 11 HR in 191 PA (Section 2E). Late-game mistakes leave the yard.

-- Liberatore TTO2. .310 / .511 / .821 in 252 PA in 2025 (Section 2E). Innings 4-6 are the trouble window.

-- Bullpen fork. Romero 88.5% strand vs Svanson 50.0%, Graceffo 54.5%, Fernandez 50.0% (Section 2F). Which arm enters in traffic decides the middle innings.

-- Raley vs LHP. .094 / .194 / .125 in 36 PA in 2025 (Section 2C). If he starts, he is the platoon liability to attack.

QUICK REFERENCE -- IN-GAME QUERIES

1. Show me Naylor's career splits vs left-handed Cardinals starters.
2. What is Bryan Woo's pitch mix vs LHB in 2026?
3. JoJo Romero inherited-runner appearances last 14 days.
4. Liberatore game logs at Busch Stadium 2024-2025.
5. Mariners scoring distribution by inning, 2026 to date.
6. Cardinals batting with RISP in 2026 vs RHP.
7. Refsnyder career HR off LHP.

700 CLARK -- POWERED BY BASES.CHAT | HISTORICAL DATA THROUGH 2025