Dodgers Preview: Dodgers Head to St. Louis for Three-Game Weekend Set Against a Surprising Cardinals Team
Los Angeles Dodgers (38-25) versus St. Louis Cardinals (34-28)
ST. LOUIS, MO— Throughout a 162-game season, it can be hard to watch all games for the average fan, but my advice for “must-watch TV” is whenever the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers play.
While the two aren’t traditional divisional rivals, it is one of the marquee matchups in Major League Baseball, with the two teams playing each other well over a century ago.
The two teams will meet for the first time this season during a three-game weekend series in St. Louis, kicking off a six-game road trip for the Dodgers after a decent 4-3 homestand.
However, what is surprising is the success of the St. Louis Cardinals, who had no expectations this season as the ’25 season was seen more as a transition year for the new President of Baseball Operations, Chaim Bloom, who will take over the current president, John Mozeliak.
After a winter of trying to move away key assets, such as veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado or closer Ryan Helsley, many pundits predicted the Cardinals would finish last in the mediocre National League Central; however, they’ve surprised everyone.
As of June 6th, the Cardinals are just five games back from the National League-leading Chicago Cubs and with a record of 34-28 are just a half game back of the San Francisco Giants for the third and final National League Wild Card spot.
The Cards have been playing .500 ball over their last ten games, and while their offense has been under league average, their pitching and defense have carried them throughout the regular season so far.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming off a series split against the New York Mets, salvaging the final game thanks to a Michael Conforto RBI single in the 8th inning yesterday.
However, the team had a respectable homestand, taking a series against the New York Yankees over the weekend and splitting with the Mets, and did not lose any ground in the super-competitive National League West, where they lead by two games over the San Diego Padres.
Pitching match-ups
Game One: Justin Wrobleski (LHP) (1-1, 8.00 ERA) vs Sonny Gray (6-1, 3.65 ERA)
Game Two: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-4, 2.39 ERA) vs Erick Fedde (3-5, 3.82 ERA)
Game Three: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Game Times
Game One: 5:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, Matrix Midwest, KMOV-4
Game Two: 11:15 AM PT, SportsNet LA, FanDuel Sports Network Midwest
Game Three: 11:15 AM PT, SportsNet LA, FanDuel Sports Network Midwest
Who’s in & who’s out?
The Los Angeles Dodgers, plagued with pitching injuries this season with a league-high fifteen players on the injured list, are expected to get some reinforcements this weekend.
Right-handed pitcher Michael Kopech and Kirby Yates are both expected to be activated this weekend in St. Louis, per Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
Both arms threw live batting practice at Dodger Stadium this week and came out feeling good.
In other news on this road trip, both Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell are set to throw off the mound. It’ll be the second attempt for Glasnow and the first for Snell.
Lefty Justin Wrobleski is expected to join the team today as a spot starter, likely replacing Ryan Loutos on the 26-man roster.
15-day Injured List (4): Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Kirby Yates, Luis García
60-day Injured List (11): Blake Snell, Brusdar Graterol, Michael Grove, Gavin Stone, River Ryan, Kyle Hurt, Emmet Sheehan, Edgardo Henriquez, Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips
The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the healthy teams in baseball as we approach the dog days of summer with just two players on the injured list.
Outfielder and first baseman Jordan Walker has been on the 10-day injured list since the end of May with left wrist inflammation and received an injection on June 4th. The Cards don’t expect Walker to return until next week, and he may need a minor league rehab assignment.
The line pitcher on the 60-day injured list for St. Louis is lefty Zack Thompson, who suffered a Grade One left lat strain in March and was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 7th to make room on the 40-man roster.
10-day Injured List (1): Jordan Walker
15-day Injured List (00):
60-day Injured List (1): Zack Thompson
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