NL CENTRAL STANDINGS
| Team | W-L | GB | Strk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brewers | 34-21 | - | L1 |
| Cubs | 32-27 | 4.0 | W1 |
| Cardinals | 30-26 | 4.5 | L1 |
| Pirates | 31-28 | 5.0 | W2 |
| Reds | 29-28 | 6.0 | L3 |
RECENT RESULTS (LAST 10)
| Date | Opp | H/A | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 30 | CHC | Home | L 1-6 |
| May 29 | CHC | Home | W 6-5 |
| May 27 | MIL | Away | L 1-2 |
| May 26 | MIL | Away | L 0-6 |
| May 25 | MIL | Away | L 1-5 |
| May 23 | CIN | Away | L 0-0 |
| May 23 | CIN | Away | W 8-1 |
| May 23 | CIN | Away | L 6-7 (11) |
| May 21 | PIT | Home | L 2-6 |
| May 20 | PIT | Home | L 0-7 |
STARTING PITCHERS
Matthew Liberatore (L) -- Cardinals
2-3, 4.76 ERA, 56.2 IP, 1.57 WHIP across 11 starts. Strikeouts: 53 (21.4% K rate, just below the 22.0% league average). Walks: 22 (8.9% BB rate, below the 9.2% league mark). Ground balls: 42.5% (below the 47.4% league average) -- contact tends to leave the infield. 10 HR allowed across 56.2 IP. The 1.57 WHIP signals baserunners are a routine feature of the outing.
Jordan Wicks (L) -- Cubs
0-1, 16.62 ERA, 4.1 IP, 2.31 WHIP across 1 start. Strikeouts: 5 (20.8% K rate, just below the 22.0% league average). Walks: 1 (4.2% BB rate, well below the 9.2% league mark). Ground balls: 37.5% (below the 47.4% league average). One HR allowed across 4.1 IP. Tiny sample -- one short outing -- but the WHIP and HR rate skew unfavorable.
EXPECTED LINEUPS
Cardinals (Projected from 2026-05-30)
| # | Player | Pos | Bats | 2026 RISP AVG | 2026 RISP OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wetherholt | 2B | L | .308 | .867 |
| 2 | Herrera | DH | R | .214 | .732 |
| 3 | Burleson | 1B | L | .323 | .847 |
| 4 | Walker | RF | R | .297 | .996 |
| 5 | Gorman | 3B | L | .204 | .607 |
| 6 | Winn | SS | R | .178 | .512 |
| 7 | Church | CF | L | -- | -- |
| 8 | Saggese | LF | R | .158 | .411 |
| 9 | Pagés | C | R | .121 | .379 |
Handedness: 5 RHB (Herrera, Walker, Winn, Saggese, Pagés), 4 LHB (Wetherholt, Burleson, Gorman, Church).
Cubs (From active roster)
13 players listed from active roster pool. Actual game lineup will be 9 from this group.
| Player | Pos | Bats |
|---|---|---|
| Bregman | 3B | R |
| Kelly | C | R |
| Swanson | SS | R |
| Happ | LF | S |
| Alcántara | RF | R |
| Busch | 1B | L |
| Conforto | RF | L |
| Amaya | C | R |
| Ballesteros | DH | L |
| Hoerner | 2B | R |
| Ramírez | 2B | S |
| Crow-Armstrong | CF | L |
| Suzuki | RF | R |
Handedness: 7 RHB (Bregman, Kelly, Swanson, Alcántara, Amaya, Hoerner, Suzuki), 4 LHB (Busch, Conforto, Ballesteros, Crow-Armstrong).
INJURIES & ROSTER NOTES
No injury or roster-move data is available for today.
KEY MATCHUPS & WATCHLIST
Walker vs Wicks. Walker's 2026 RISP line of .297/.387/.609/.996 across 75 PA is the Cardinals' top-end profile, batting right vs the left-handed Wicks -- platoon edge to the hitter. Wicks's 2.31 WHIP across his 4.1 IP sample suggests baserunners are a routine feature of the outing; Walker has the cleanup at-bats lined up against them.
Burleson vs Wicks. Burleson's .323/.370/.477/.847 RISP line across 73 PA is the Cardinals' second-best contact profile. He bats left vs the left-handed Wicks -- no platoon edge -- but the .847 RISP OPS still sits well above the .731 league benchmark, and Wicks's 16.62 ERA gives the hitter a margin even without the platoon tilt.
Liberatore vs Crow-Armstrong. PCA's 2026 RISP line of .309/.391/.473/.864 across 64 PA is the Cubs' top RISP threat, and he is coming off a 4-for-5, HR night. He bats left vs the left-handed Liberatore -- no platoon edge for the hitter -- but Liberatore's 1.57 WHIP and 10 HR allowed across 56.2 IP keep the long-ball lane open.
-- Watchlist: Wicks's tiny sample. One 2026 start, 4.1 IP, 16.62 ERA, 2.31 WHIP, 5 K, 1 BB, 9 H, 1 HR. The numbers point in one direction but the sample is thin enough to swing either way; the floor is high-leverage early outs from the Cardinals' top of the order.
-- Watchlist: Cubs RISP depth vs Liberatore. Crow-Armstrong .864 (64 PA), Kelly .852 (52 PA), Amaya .842 (32 PA), Busch .800 (75 PA), Ballesteros .797 (37 PA), Conforto .787 (24 PA), Happ .757 (79 PA) -- seven bats at or above the .731 league RISP OPS benchmark. Liberatore's 1.57 WHIP into that depth is the multi-run inning risk.
-- Watchlist: Rubber match, taxed bullpens. Series tied 1-1, Game 3 of 3. The Cardinals burned Fernandez, Bruihl, Graceffo, and Pushard yesterday across 4.2 relief innings. Whichever side's bridge arms still have a clean inning available decides the late frames.
QUICK REFERENCE -- IN-GAME QUERIES
1. How has Jordan Walker performed against Jordan Wicks in their career?
2. How has Matthew Liberatore fared against Pete Crow-Armstrong in their career?
3. How has Alec Burleson performed against Hoby Milner in their career?
4. What are Matthew Liberatore's third-time-through-the-order splits in 2025?
5. What are Michael Busch's splits vs LHP in 2025?
6. How often does Hoby Milner strand inherited runners in 2025?
7. What is the home run park factor at Busch Stadium in 2025?
700 CLARK -- POWERED BY BASES.CHAT | HISTORICAL DATA THROUGH 2025