The Arizona Diamondbacks and St. Louis Cardinals continue their three-game series at Busch Stadium, with the Cardinals securing a 4-3 victory in Game 1 after a dramatic sixth-inning rally.
Game Overview
- Date: Saturday, May 24, 2025
- Time: 1:15 PM ET
- Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
- Broadcast: ESPN, Bally Sports Midwest, Bally Sports Arizona
- Series Status: Cardinals lead 1-0
Team Breakdown
St. Louis Cardinals (28-23, 2nd in NL Central)
- Last Game: 4-3 win vs. Diamondbacks
- Key Players:
- Lars Nootbaar – Leads the team with seven home runs, slugging .407.
- Ivan Herrera – Has been red-hot, going 15-for-35 with three doubles, a home run, and nine RBIs over the last 10 games.
- Miles Mikolas (SP) – Delivered a strong outing in Game 1, improving to 4-2 with a 3.51 ERA.
Arizona Diamondbacks (26-25, 3rd in NL West)
- Last Game: 3-4 loss vs. Cardinals
- Key Players:
- Corbin Carroll – Leads Arizona with 15 home runs, adding six triples and nine stolen bases.
- Geraldo Perdomo – Batting .299, with 13 doubles and six home runs.
- Gabriel Moreno – Hit a pinch-hit two-run homer in the ninth inning of Game 1, nearly sparking a comeback.
Key Matchups & Storylines
1. Merrill Kelly vs. Matthew Liberatore – Pitching Duel
- Merrill Kelly (ARI): 5-2, 3.26 ERA, has a 3-1 career record vs. Cardinals with a 2.75 ERA.
- Matthew Liberatore (STL): 3-3, 2.92 ERA, has a 47-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his last nine starts.
2. Cardinals’ Sixth-Inning Rally in Game 1
St. Louis turned a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 lead in the sixth inning, capitalizing on Zac Gallen’s control issues. Can Arizona’s pitching staff avoid another late-game collapse?
3. Diamondbacks’ Power vs. Cardinals’ Contact Hitting
Arizona ranks fifth in MLB with 72 home runs, averaging 1.4 per game. Meanwhile, St. Louis relies on consistent contact hitting, ranking seventh in runs per game.
4. Cardinals’ Home Dominance vs. Diamondbacks’ Road Performance
St. Louis boasts a 17-8 home record, while Arizona is 13-12 on the road. Can the Diamondbacks steal a win in a tough environment?
5. NL Playoff Implications
Both teams are in the Wild Card race, making this series crucial for positioning in the standings.
Prediction & X-Factors
- Likely Outcome: A close, competitive game with pitching dictating the pace.
- X-Factors:
- Kelly’s ability to limit walks – If he controls the strike zone, Arizona has the edge.
- Liberatore’s command – Can he continue his strong strikeout-to-walk ratio?
- Moreno’s clutch hitting – If he delivers again, Arizona could pull off a win.
Game Odds
Arizona Diamondbacks 7.5
St. Louis Cardinals – 115
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, May 23, 2025
