First pitch: 1:35 p.m. ET
Venue: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
TV: NBCS-PH / Cardinals.TV (local); check regional listings)
This is the rubber game (or series finale) of a three-game set. The Phillies took the first two: a 7-6 walk-off in 10 innings on Friday (Alec Bohm’s two-run triple) and a dominant 12-3 rout on Saturday (Andrew Painter’s strong start, Kyle Schwarber’s MLB-leading 38th HR, Bryce Harper’s three-run shot). The Phillies have won eight straight overall.
Starting Pitchers
St. Louis: RHP Kyle Leahy (10-4, 3.24 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 111 K in 122.1 IP). The 29-year-old has emerged as the Cardinals’ steadiest starter. Excellent recent form (1.38 ERA over last 10 starts, limited hard contact, strong K/BB). He beat the Phillies earlier this month (5 IP, 1 ER). Workload is being managed—he has already exceeded prior career highs in innings and could see shorter outings or a future piggyback/bullpen shift, but he is listed to start.
Philadelphia: LHP Cristopher Sánchez (16-4, 2.51 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 187 K in 161.2 IP). One of the NL’s top arms (All-Star, Cy Young contender). Dominant season with elite command and ground-ball tendencies. Recent excellence includes scoreless or low-run outings; he blanked the Cardinals for 6 IP earlier in August. High win total and strikeout rate make him a tough matchup.
Current Rosters / Key Players
Cardinals key contributors: Jordan Walker (OF, ~.289 AVG, 27 HR, 96 RBI—team leader in power production), Alec Burleson (1B/OF, high average and extra-base hits), JJ Wetherholt (IF, recent HR), Ivan Herrera (DH), Joshua Báez, Nathan Church, José Fermín, Jimmy Crooks (C), Blaze Jordan. Pitching support includes Michael McGreevy, Matthew Liberatore, and bullpen arms (Gordon Graceffo noted positively).
Phillies key contributors: Kyle Schwarber (DH, MLB-leading 38 HR), Bryce Harper (1B/OF, power and OBP), Trea Turner (SS, speed/contact), Alec Bohm (3B, multi-hit games in series), Brandon Marsh (OF), J.T. Realmuto (C), Luis Arraez (IF, high average—day-to-day after lower-body cramps), Edmundo Sosa, Bryson Stott. Strong overall lineup that has scored in bunches during the streak. Bullpen and rotation depth remain solid despite some IL absences.
Injury Reports
Cardinals: Ramón Urías (60-day IL, elbow); Max Rajcic (60-day IL, elbow); Andre Pallante (15-day IL, elbow inflammation); Hunter Dobbins (15-day IL / recent forearm tightness, further evaluation pending); Everson Pereira (day-to-day, hand after HBP); Masyn Winn (day-to-day, thumb—recent defensive appearances); JoJo Romero (notes of prior appendix issues in some reports). Position-player core largely available.
Phillies: Rafael Marchán (10-day IL, knee); Caleb Kilian (15-day IL, oblique); Brad Keller (60-day IL, elbow); Tanner Banks (60-day IL, forearm); Johan Rojas (60-day IL, elbow); Adolis García (60-day IL, lat); Felix Reyes (60-day IL, wrist); Luis Arraez and Derek Hill day-to-day (lower-body cramps / neck stiffness after Saturday). Core stars (Schwarber, Harper, Turner, Bohm, Realmuto, Marsh) active.
Weather Forecast (Philadelphia / Citizens Bank Park)
Mostly sunny after possible early-morning showers/patchy fog. High around 83–84°F, humid early then decreasing. South/west winds light (around 5 mph). Comfortable afternoon conditions for a day game; low rain risk by first pitch.
Recent Team Forms
Phillies (72-58, 2nd NL East): Excellent—eight-game winning streak, strong home play, high-powered offense (especially power from Schwarber/Harper), and timely hitting. Last 10 roughly 8-2. Closing gap on Braves.
Cardinals (66-65, 3rd NL Central): Competitive but inconsistent lately (lost first two of series). Offense has shown pop (Walker hot), and Leahy has stabilized the rotation, but road results and recent losses leave them chasing wild-card positioning. Last 10 around .500.
Series History / Head-to-Head
2026 season series currently favors Phillies after taking the first two of this set (prior meetings this year were competitive/split-ish; earlier August series in St. Louis had Cardinals wins). Historical edge often to Phillies in recent years at Citizens Bank Park. This is a rematch of sorts from prior postseason history, but current form heavily favors the hosts.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Leahy (RHP, improving command/stuff) vs. Phillies lefty-heavy/power bats (Schwarber, Harper, Marsh, Arraez). Leahy limited the Phillies previously; must navigate early traffic against a hot lineup.
Sánchez (LHP, elite sinker/changeup, high K rate) vs. Cardinals righties and power threats (Walker, Burleson, Wetherholt). Sánchez’s ground-ball profile and recent scoreless work against St. Louis give him the edge; Cardinals may struggle to generate consistent hard contact.
Bullpens and late innings: Phillies deeper and hotter; Cardinals managing workloads. Schwarber/Harper power vs. Leahy’s splitter/fastball mix is a featured battle. Speed elements (Turner) vs. Cardinals defense.
Betting Trends
Phillies strong as home favorites during win streaks; high-scoring potential at Citizens Bank Park but Sánchez often keeps totals in check. Cardinals have covered as underdogs at times and Leahy has been reliable, but recent series results favor Philly. Unders more common in Sánchez starts; overs hit when Phillies offense explodes.
Game Odds
St. Louis Cardinals 7.5
Philadelphia Phillies – 210
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, August 22, 2026
