The Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals are set to face off in the second game of their three-game series on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. The Cardinals dominated the series opener with an 8-3 victory, powered by Nolan Arenado’s home run and Sonny Gray’s stellar pitching performance. The Astros will look to bounce back and even the series.
Game Details
- Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
- Time: 6:45 PM CT
- Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
- TV Broadcast: Space City Home Network
- Radio: 790 AM, 93.3 FM
- Live Stream: Available on Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
Team Overview & Recent Form
Houston Astros (7-9)
The Astros have struggled early in the season, sitting fourth in the AL West. Their offense has been inconsistent, ranking 21st in MLB with a .219 team batting average, but they have shown flashes of power, hitting 13 home runs so far. Houston will send Hunter Brown to the mound, looking to improve his 1-1 record.
- Key Players:
- Jose Altuve – Leads the team with three home runs and a .302 batting average.
- Jeremy Peña – Hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning of Monday’s loss.
- Hunter Brown (1-1, 2.00 ERA) – Expected to start, boasting 18 strikeouts in 18⅔ innings.
- Strengths:
- Pitching Depth: Brown has been dominant, holding opponents to a .177 batting average.
- Disciplined Batting: Houston ranks 15th in MLB in on-base percentage (.306).
- Weaknesses:
- Offensive Struggles: The Astros rank 26th in MLB in slugging percentage (.321).
- Strikeout Concerns: Houston averages 8.5 strikeouts per game, ranking 15th in MLB.
St. Louis Cardinals (8-8)
The Cardinals have been competitive early in the season, sitting third in the NL Central. They dominated the series opener, with Sonny Gray throwing seven scoreless innings and Nolan Arenado leading the offense with a home run and two doubles. St. Louis will send Erick Fedde to the mound, looking to build on his 1-1 record.
- Key Players:
- Nolan Arenado – Went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run in Monday’s win.
- Lars Nootbaar – Drove in a run with a single in the fourth inning.
- Erick Fedde (1-1, 4.49 ERA) – Expected to start, looking to improve his command.
- Strengths:
- Elite Contact Hitting: St. Louis ranks second in MLB with 166 total hits.
- Power Potential: The Cardinals rank seventh in MLB with 19 home runs.
- Weaknesses:
- Pitching Consistency: St. Louis ranks 23rd in MLB in team ERA (4.49).
- Strikeout Concerns: The Cardinals average 7.9 strikeouts per game, ranking 20th in MLB.
Matchup Analysis & Prediction
- Astros’ Pitching vs. Cardinals’ Offense: Houston’s dominant rotation will be tested against St. Louis’ high-contact lineup.
- Key Battle: Hunter Brown vs. Nolan Arenado—Brown has been outstanding, while Arenado is coming off a huge performance.
- X-Factor: Jeremy Peña—If Peña continues his hot streak, the Astros could have the edge.
Houston Astros – 130
St. Louis Cardinals 7.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, April 14, 2025
