2025-08-24 Cardinals at Rays Matchup Preview

Starting Pitching Matchup

Matthew Liberatore will take the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals, while the Tampa Bay Rays are expected to counter with Ryan Pepiot. Liberatore brings a repertoire designed to keep hitters off balance, mixing velocity and movement to induce weak contact. His effectiveness will hinge on commanding the strike zone and avoiding prolonged stretches in the heart of the plate. Pepiot, on the other hand, looks to overpower hitters with a fastball and complement it with secondary pitches that generate swings and misses. His success lies in maintaining velocity deep into the game and keeping his secondary offerings sharp.

Cardinals Offensive Strategy

The St. Louis Cardinals offense is built around a mix of veteran experience and youthful exuberance. Their approach at the plate emphasizes patience and selectivity, aiming to work deep counts and capitalize on mistakes. The Cardinals' overall team weighted on-base average suggests they are a disciplined offensive unit. Against Pepiot, the Cardinals will look to exploit any tendencies he has in terms of pitch selection and location, focusing on driving the ball into the gaps and utilizing their team speed to generate extra bases. They'll need to be particularly wary of Pepiot's ability to elevate his fastball, which could lead to unproductive fly ball outs if they are not careful. The Cardinals will also need to generate opportunities with runners on base to score in this contest.

Rays Offensive Strategy

The Tampa Bay Rays offense is known for its adaptability and willingness to embrace unconventional strategies. The Rays have a slightly lower team weighted on-base average than the Cardinals, demonstrating that the team needs to be more opportunistic and aggressive on the base paths. Against Liberatore, the Rays will likely employ a patient approach, aiming to wear him down and force him to pitch from behind in the count. This would be especially important to improve on their team's batting average on balls in play. The Rays lineup features a number of hitters who excel at making contact and utilizing the entire field, so Liberatore will need to be precise with his pitch placement to avoid giving up easy hits.

Bullpen Considerations

Both the Cardinals and Rays possess solid bullpens, capable of locking down close games. For the Cardinals, the key will be to bridge the gap between Liberatore's exit and the late-inning arms, relying on their middle relievers to maintain a lead or keep the game within striking distance. Their relievers must be able to limit walks and keep the ball in the ballpark, as the Rays offense is adept at manufacturing runs. The Rays bullpen is equally crucial, particularly if Pepiot struggles to pitch deep into the game. Their relievers will need to be effective at shutting down the Cardinals' potent offense and preventing them from mounting any late-inning rallies. The ability of both bullpens to execute their roles effectively will be a significant factor in determining the outcome of the game.

Defensive Play

Defensively, both teams are generally sound, but the Cardinals' defense has been slightly more consistent throughout the season. The Rays, while capable of making highlight-reel plays, can sometimes be prone to defensive lapses. The Cardinals will need to play clean defense behind Liberatore, minimizing errors and preventing the Rays from getting any cheap runs. The Rays, likewise, will need to be sharp defensively to support Pepiot and prevent the Cardinals from taking advantage of any mistakes. A key defensive play or miscue could easily swing the momentum of the game and have a significant impact on the final score.

Intangibles and Prediction

This game pits two well-managed teams against each other, both with playoff aspirations. The Cardinals' experience and offensive discipline could give them a slight edge, particularly if Liberatore is able to keep the Rays offense in check. However, the Rays' adaptability and bullpen depth make them a dangerous opponent. The ability of each team to execute its game plan effectively and capitalize on opportunities will be crucial. Both teams need to focus on keeping runners off base so they don't waste their opportunity to score runs. While both teams have shown proficiency in scoring, the Cardinals' offensive consistency, combined with Liberatore's experience, positions them for a slight advantage. Ultimately, the Cardinals' better weighted on-base average will be a factor in helping them pull out a close win.

Cardinals 5 Rays 4