NL CENTRAL STANDINGS

NL WEST STANDINGS

RECENT RESULTS (LAST 10)

STARTING PITCHERS

Kyle Leahy (STL, R) -- 7-4, 3.44 ERA, 107.1 IP, 21 GS, 1.33 WHIP in 2026. Home split tonight: 55.0 IP, 2.95 ERA in 2026 (2025 baseline: 44.1 IP, 4.47 ERA at home). Ground-ball profile: 44.2% GB rate (249 BIP in 2025), elevated 27.7% LD rate. Starting with Jimmy Crooks at catcher -- only 4G / 6.1 IP / 8.53 ERA together. Pedro Pagés is the primary receiver this season (43G / 62.0 IP / 3.05 ERA) and is not starting tonight.

Ryan Feltner (COL, R) -- 4-5, 5.75 ERA, 76.2 IP, 16 GS, 1.46 WHIP in 2026. Road split tonight: 27.0 IP, 6.00 ERA in 2026 (2025 baseline: 14.2 IP, 4.91 ERA away). Platoon exposure: .847 OPS allowed to left-handed batters in 167 BF in 2026 (2025 baseline: .880 OPS in 68 PA). The Cardinals project six left-handed starters tonight. Ground-ball pitcher: 48.9% GB rate (94 BIP in 2025).

EXPECTED LINEUPS

Cardinals (Projected from 2026-08-05)

Handedness: 3 RHB (Herrera, Walker, Winn), 6 LHB (Wetherholt, Burleson, Nootbaar, Crooks, Gorman, Church).

Rockies (From active roster)

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

Handedness: 5 RHB (Tovar, Goodman, Beck, Karros, Freeman), 6 LHB (Sullivan, Julien, McCarthy, Moniak, Rumfield, Johnston), 2 SHB (Carrigg, Castro).

INJURIES & ROSTER NOTES

Colorado: Sean Sullivan (P) -- 15-day IL (retroactive to July 5). Brenton Doyle (CF) -- activated from IL (July 31).

St. Louis: No IL transactions in the last 14 days.

2A: BVP -- CARDINALS BATTERS VS OPPONENT STARTER

Small sample: Masyn Winn (6 PA), Alec Burleson (6 PA), Iván Herrera (5 PA), Jordan Walker (2 PA).

All four Cardinals with career history against Feltner are in the small-sample range (max 6 PA). None of the samples are large enough to treat as predictive. Five starters in tonight's projected lineup have no career plate appearances against Feltner: Wetherholt, Nootbaar, Crooks, Gorman, and Church. No bench BvP history is available. The table provides structural context only -- seasonal form and platoon data carry more weight tonight.

2B: BVP -- OPPONENT BATTERS VS CARDINALS STARTER

Small sample: Hunter Goodman (3 PA), Mickey Moniak (3 PA), Jordan Beck (3 PA), Tyler Freeman (3 PA), Ezequiel Tovar (2 PA), Kyle Karros (2 PA), Willi Castro (1 PA), Edouard Julien (1 PA).

All eight Colorado batters with career history against Leahy have between one and three plate appearances -- all well below the 10-PA threshold that would make any line predictive. Tovar and Karros each show 1-for-2 (.500 AVG in 2 PA) but those sample sizes carry no inferential weight. No Colorado batter meets the danger-bat threshold (0.400 AVG in 10+ PA). No bench BvP history available. Seasonal form and platoon data are the operative reference tonight.

2C: PLATOON SPLITS -- CARDINALS

2026 companion columns: sample floor is 60 PA vs this hand (below floor renders SSS in the table above). The 2026 column never leads in this section -- 2025 vs-hand always leads, regardless of 2026 sample size.

The Cardinals project six left-handed batters against right-hander Ryan Feltner tonight, giving all six a platoon advantage. Alec Burleson is the headliner: 2025 baseline .296 AVG / .353 OBP / .478 SLG vs right-handed pitching (419 PA). 2026 to date: .329 AVG, .968 OPS (337 PA) -- improvement in both average and power that confirms the 2025 baseline was not a ceiling. Jordan Walker bats right and faces Feltner without a platoon edge: 2025 baseline .200 / .263 / .291 vs RHP (289 PA). 2026 to date: .280 AVG, .807 OPS (352 PA) -- a substantial jump that makes his bat more relevant than the 2025 number alone suggests. Nathan Church and Jimmy Crooks hold the platoon advantage as left-handed bats but show persistent contact concerns: Church 2025 .114 AVG (51 PA vs RHP), Crooks 2025 .108 AVG with zero walks in 38 PA. Their 2026 companions show incremental improvement but remain below lineup average.

2C: PLATOON SPLITS -- OPPONENT

2026 companion columns: sample floor is 60 PA vs this hand (below floor renders SSS in the table above). The 2026 column never leads in this section -- 2025 vs-hand always leads, regardless of 2026 sample size.

Colorado's left-handed batters hold the platoon advantage against right-hander Kyle Leahy. Mickey Moniak (L) leads the group: 2025 baseline .276 AVG / .309 OBP / .547 SLG vs right-handed pitching (401 PA). 2026 to date: .294 AVG, .956 OPS (233 PA) -- the strongest left-handed bat vs RHP line in tonight's Colorado pool. Troy Johnston (L): 2025 baseline .288 / .345 / .442 (113 PA). 2026 to date: .304 AVG, .801 OPS (274 PA). Jake McCarthy (L) showed a weak 2025 baseline (.201, 180 PA) but has improved in 2026 (.280 AVG, .789 OPS in 288 PA). Hunter Goodman bats right and faces Leahy's favorable same-hand split, yet carries 33 home runs this season -- 2025 baseline .277 / .317 / .510 / 23 HR vs RHP (439 PA); 2026 to date .244 AVG, .863 OPS (296 PA). Power production is not platoon-dependent for him. Note: Brett Sullivan (C, L) in the table is Colorado's catcher in the active roster pool, separate from Sean Sullivan (P) who is on the injured list.

2D: PITCHER PLATOON SPLITS

Ryan Feltner vs left-handed batters (the featured angle tonight): 2026 to date: .847 OPS (167 BF). 2025 baseline: .880 OPS (68 PA). Both samples clear the 60-BF floor and point the same direction. Six Cardinals left-handed starters sit in tonight's lineup against this split.

Ryan Feltner vs right-handed batters: 2026 to date: .871 OPS (167 BF). 2025 baseline: .675 OPS (67 PA). The 2026 vs-RHB figure has risen substantially above the 2025 baseline -- the split has narrowed, meaning there is no same-hand shelter in Feltner's current profile. Cardinals right-handed bats (Walker, Winn) face an elevated .871 OPS allowed mark.

Kyle Leahy vs left-handed batters: 2026 to date: .856 OPS (233 BF). 2025 baseline: .701 OPS (163 PA). The 2026 mark is elevated relative to 2025 -- the same platoon structure that cuts against Feltner on offense cuts against Leahy on the mound. Colorado's left-handed bats (Moniak, Johnston, McCarthy) hold the platoon edge.

Kyle Leahy vs right-handed batters: 2026 to date: .619 OPS (223 BF). 2025 baseline: .589 OPS (200 PA). Consistent same-hand control across both seasons. Goodman, Beck, Freeman, Tovar, and Karros face Leahy's most favorable split tonight.

2D-HA: PITCHER HOME/AWAY SPLITS

Kyle Leahy at home tonight: 2026 to date: 55.0 IP, 2.95 ERA at Busch Stadium. 2025 baseline: 44.1 IP, 4.47 ERA at home. The 2026 home figure is the stronger mark and is the operative benchmark for tonight's start.

Ryan Feltner on the road tonight: 2026 to date: 27.0 IP, 6.00 ERA away. 2025 baseline: 14.2 IP, 4.91 ERA away. Both road samples carry elevated ERAs relative to his home figures; the 2026 road number is the current state of his performance away from Coors Field.

2E: TTO SPLITS (TIMES THROUGH ORDER)

Kyle Leahy -- first pass (TTO1): 2026 to date: .556 OPS (191 BF). 2025 baseline: .645 OPS (355 PA). His first pass is his strongest portion in both seasons.

Kyle Leahy -- second pass (TTO2): 2026 to date: .779 OPS (179 BF). 2025: 8 PA -- too thin to read. The 2026 figure is the sole operative benchmark for second-pass projection; OPS rises 223 points from the first pass to the second in 2026.

Kyle Leahy -- third pass (TTO3, not in table above): 2026 to date: 86 BF, .351 AVG, 1.068 OPS. No 2025 baseline available in this dataset. The sample clears the 60-BF floor. If Leahy reaches the lineup's third look, this is the operating figure -- a 512-point OPS jump from his first-pass mark. Watch pitch count in the 85-95 range as the proactive bullpen trigger entering that third look.

Ryan Feltner -- first pass (TTO1): 2026 to date: .869 OPS (145 BF). 2025 baseline: .651 OPS (54 PA). Feltner's 2026 first-pass mark is elevated compared to 2025 -- batters are reaching him earlier and more frequently than a year ago.

Ryan Feltner -- second pass (TTO2): 2026 to date: .824 OPS (128 BF). 2025 baseline: .985 OPS (54 PA). The 2026 figure is the operative benchmark. Cardinals left-handed contact in the second pass carries the featured Watch angle -- both samples above the floor, the 2025 extreme showing what is possible when that contact concentrates.

Ryan Feltner -- third pass (TTO3): 2026 to date: .915 OPS (61 BF). 2025 baseline: .642 OPS (27 PA). Both samples above the floor. Feltner's 2026 third-pass mark is his highest of the three passes in 2026, while the 2025 baseline was his lowest -- the directional divergence between seasons limits inferential weight here.

2F: INHERITED RUNNERS PROFILE

IR counts and strand rates reflect 2025 data; the rightmost three columns show each pitcher's 2026 season-to-date context. League-average inherited runner strand rate is roughly 68-72%. Gordon Graceffo at 54.5% (11 IR in 2025) is the most notable concern in the Cardinals bullpen pool tonight -- stranding just over half of inherited runners. Riley O'Brien (70.0%, 10 IR) sits near league average. Michael McGreevy shows 100.0% (3 IR) but three inherited runners is too small a sample to carry predictive weight.

2G: BATTED BALL MATCHUP

Pitcher Batted Ball Profiles (2025)

Hitter Batted Ball Results (2025) -- COL

Pitcher profiles: Ryan Feltner induces ground balls on 48.9% of batted balls (94 BIP in 2025) with a 30.9% fly-ball rate. Kyle Leahy is less extreme at 44.2% GB (249 BIP in 2025) and carries a notably elevated 27.7% line-drive rate. A high LD rate means contact tends toward base hits rather than double-play grounders.

Colorado against Leahy's 27.7% LD rate: Jordan Beck (.670 LD AVG, 344 BIP in 2025), Tyler Freeman (.695 LD AVG, 318 BIP), Hunter Goodman (.674 LD AVG, 357 BIP), and Kyle Karros (.696 LD AVG, 95 BIP) are Colorado's strongest line-drive contact producers -- all convert line drives at an above-average rate. Mickey Moniak (.614 LD AVG, 299 BIP) adds to the group. When Leahy gives up line drives, this roster pool converts them.

Cardinals against Feltner's 48.9% GB pitch: Nathan Church (67.6% GB rate, 37 BIP in 2025) is an extreme ground-ball hitter facing a ground-ball pitcher -- most of his contact goes to the infield. Jimmy Crooks goes the opposite direction at 44.4% FB rate (27 BIP), the most elevated fly-ball profile in tonight's Cardinals lineup against a pitcher who works more grounders than flies.

2H: BATTERY PAIRING

Note on Yohel Pozo: Pozo appears in the table with 13G / 16.0 IP / 2.25 ERA in pairings with Leahy. He is not on the current Cardinals active roster -- this data reflects a prior tenure. Do not read him as a tonight option.

Tonight's battery: Jimmy Crooks starts at catcher in only his fourth game catching Leahy -- 6.1 IP together, 8.53 ERA in that small window. Pedro Pagés is the established primary receiver (43G / 62.0 IP / 3.05 ERA together) and is not starting tonight. The battery change is the most significant tactical variable in Leahy's performance environment: pitch-type sequencing, signal calibration, and stolen base timing are all less road-tested than the Pagés pairing.

2I: BASERUNNING MATCHUP

Colorado is an active baserunning team tonight. Jordan Beck (19 SB, 70.4% success rate in 2026) and Tyler Freeman (18 SB, 66.7%) lead in volume. Jake McCarthy has not been caught this season (6 SB, 100.0%). With Jimmy Crooks making only his fourth career start catching Leahy, the throw timing and pitch-type read are not yet fully calibrated. Colorado will probe that fresh battery early -- Beck and Freeman are the primary triggers to watch in the first two innings.

2J: DEFENSIVE CONTEXT

Masyn Winn (SS): 129G at shortstop in 2026, 64 double plays, 3 errors, .994 fielding percentage -- the infield anchor. With Leahy's 44.2% GB rate generating ground-ball contact, Winn's double-play efficiency is a direct Leahy support mechanism. Jimmy Crooks (C): 14G at catcher in 2026, 0 errors, 1.000 fielding percentage -- clean defensively in limited appearances. Nathan Church (CF): 18G in center field, 0 errors, 1.000 fielding percentage. Jordan Walker (RF): 108G, 4 errors, .981 fielding percentage. Alec Burleson carries a .990 fielding percentage at first base (50G) -- the defensive complement to his offensive platoon value tonight.

2K: BALLPARK CONTEXT & HEAD-TO-HEAD

The 2025 series (2-4) was Colorado's best showing in the recent span; 2024 and 2022 both went to the Cardinals. No numeric park factor for Busch Stadium is available in tonight's dataset -- treat venue context through Leahy's 2026 home ERA (2.95 in 55.0 IP) as the operative environmental signal.

2L: BATTER K%/BB% PROFILE

Cardinals

K%/BB% and raw K/BB counts: 2025 Neon data. The 2026 companion columns show current season-to-date figures; floor is 120 PA for the 2026 columns to display.

Rockies

Cardinals contacts and concerns: Alec Burleson posts the cleanest contact profile in tonight's lineup at 14.5% K in 2025 (544 PA) and 15.8% K in 2026 (482 PA) -- a below-average strikeout rate for a middle-of-the-order bat. Jordan Walker's strikeout rate has improved substantially: 31.8% K in 2025 (396 PA) down to 25.1% K in 2026 (475 PA) -- the trend is positive and meaningful given his RISP production. Jimmy Crooks remains elevated at 37.0% K (2025, 46 PA) with zero walks drawn that season, and 33.0% K in 2026 (106 PA) -- the contact concern carries across both seasons.

Colorado contacts and concerns: Tyler Freeman is the most disciplined contact bat in tonight's Colorado pool at 11.9% K in 2025 (428 PA), consistent with his 2026 mark (11.9%, 285 PA). Hunter Goodman's strikeout rate has risen: 26.3% K in 2025 (579 PA) to 33.6% K in 2026 (437 PA) -- elevated and trending the wrong direction, though his power output compensates. Edouard Julien (29.3% K, 208 PA in 2025) and Jordan Beck (29.6% K, 587 PA in 2025) are both high-strikeout profiles, which benefits Leahy given his 22.0% K rate in 2025.

2M: BATTER BATTED BALL PROFILE

Cardinals

Batter batted ball profiles: 2025 Neon data. No 2026 companion available for this section.

Rockies

Cardinals against Feltner's 48.9% GB pitch: Nathan Church (67.6% GB rate, 37 BIP in 2025) is the Cardinals' most extreme ground-ball hitter -- his contact tonight overwhelmingly goes to the infield against a pitcher who already induces grounders. Iván Herrera (52.6% GB, 285 BIP) and Jordan Walker (48.9% GB, 231 BIP) align closely with Feltner's profile. Jimmy Crooks at 44.4% FB (27 BIP) is the outlier -- fly-ball contact from him goes against Feltner's grain and represents a different type of risk.

Colorado against Leahy's 27.7% LD rate: Leahy's elevated line-drive rate is the primary batted-ball risk factor tonight. Jordan Beck (.670 LD AVG, 344 BIP), Tyler Freeman (.695 LD AVG, 318 BIP), Hunter Goodman (.674 LD AVG, 357 BIP), and Kyle Karros (.696 LD AVG, 95 BIP) are Colorado's strongest line-drive contact producers. Mickey Moniak (.614 LD AVG, 299 BIP) and Troy Johnston (.607 LD AVG, 81 BIP) add to the group. When Leahy gives up line drives, this roster pool converts them at an above-average rate.

2N: PITCHER K%/BB% PROFILE

Data reflects 2025 season. Kyle Leahy: 22.0% K rate, 7.7% BB rate, 2.86 K/BB ratio (88.0 IP, 80 K, 28 BB). Ryan Feltner: 18.5% K rate, 8.9% BB rate, 2.08 K/BB ratio (30.1 IP, 25 K, 12 BB). Leahy has the edge in both strikeout rate and walk rate; his K/BB ratio of 2.86 versus Feltner's 2.08 reflects a meaningful command advantage in the 2025 baseline. Feltner's higher walk rate compounds his platoon exposure -- free passes to left-handed batters place them on base against a pitcher who already carries an .847 OPS allowed to that side in 2026.

KEY MATCHUPS & WATCHLIST

Alec Burleson vs. Ryan Feltner. Burleson is 1-for-6 (.167) in career plate appearances against Feltner -- zero walks, one strikeout. The sample is too thin to carry direct predictive weight. What it does not capture: Burleson's 2026 line versus right-handed pitching is .329 AVG, .968 OPS in 337 plate appearances -- one of the strongest vs-RHP marks in tonight's lineup. He bats third as a left-handed bat against a pitcher who has allowed .847 OPS to left-handed batters in 167 BF in 2026 (2025 baseline: .880 OPS in 68 PA). The platoon edge, the seasonal form, and the batting order position all converge on this at-bat.

Hunter Goodman vs. Kyle Leahy. Goodman is 0-for-3 with 3 strikeouts against Leahy in career plate appearances. The early career pattern favors Leahy, and the split data reinforces it: Leahy's 2026 OPS allowed to right-handed batters is .619 (223 BF). 2025 baseline: .589 (200 PA) -- consistent same-hand control across both seasons. Goodman has 33 home runs this year, .863 OPS versus right-handed pitching in 296 PA in 2026. The career pattern favors Leahy; Goodman's power volume keeps every at-bat meaningful regardless of the hand matchup.

Jimmy Crooks catching Kyle Leahy. Crooks starts tonight in only his fourth game catching Leahy -- 6.1 IP together, 8.53 ERA in that limited window. Pedro Pagés is Leahy's established primary receiver (43G / 62.0 IP / 3.05 ERA) and is not starting. Fresh battery pairings introduce signal-sequencing risk on pitch-type recognition and stolen base timing. Colorado has Jordan Beck (19 SB, 70.4% success rate) and Tyler Freeman (18 SB, 66.7%) ready to test that timing early.

Watchlist

-- Colorado's running game against a fresh battery. Jordan Beck (19 SB, 70.4% in 2026) and Tyler Freeman (18 SB, 66.7%) are Colorado's most active baserunners. With Crooks in only his fourth career start catching Leahy, the throw timing and pitch-type read are not yet fully calibrated between them. Watch for stolen base attempts in the first two innings as Colorado probes the new battery's rhythm.

-- Leahy's third pass through the lineup. His 2026 first-pass OPS allowed is .556 (191 BF) -- the strongest portion of his start. By the third pass, that figure rises to 1.068 OPS (86 BF) in 2026. Watch pitch count in the 85-95 range entering the lineup's third look as the Cardinals' proactive bullpen trigger point.

-- Jordan Walker as the lineup's RISP conversion engine. Walker's 2026 RISP OPS is 1.013 in 144 plate appearances -- the highest on-base run-scoring mark in tonight's Cardinals order. If left-handed batters reach base against Feltner in the first three innings, Walker batting fourth is the primary conversion lever to watch.

QUICK REFERENCE -- IN-GAME QUERIES

1. How has Alec Burleson performed against Ryan Feltner in their career head-to-head?
2. How has Kyle Leahy fared against Hunter Goodman in their career head-to-head?
3. How has Tyler Freeman performed against Gordon Graceffo in their career head-to-head?
4. What are Kyle Leahy's third-time-through-the-order splits in 2025?
5. What are Mickey Moniak's splits versus right-handed pitching in 2025?
6. How often does Riley O'Brien strand inherited runners in 2025?
7. What is the home run park factor at Busch Stadium in 2025?