The upcoming MLB game between the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals is set to be an exciting clash between two National League teams.
Game Overview
- Date: Saturday, April 12, 2025
- Time: 2:15 PM ET
- Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
- Season Series: This is the second game of a three-game series. The Cardinals won the opener 2-0, showcasing strong pitching and defense.
Team Records and Standings
- Philadelphia Phillies (8-5): The Phillies are second in the NL East and have been in solid form, winning six of their last ten games. They rank ninth in MLB with a .247 team batting average and have shown power at the plate, hitting 16 home runs this season.
- St. Louis Cardinals (6-7): The Cardinals are third in the NL Central and have struggled with consistency early in the season. Despite this, they boast the second-best team batting average in the NL at .278 and rank sixth in MLB with a .437 slugging percentage.
Pitching Matchup
- Philadelphia Phillies:
- Cristopher Sánchez: Sánchez will make his third start of the season. He has a 4.09 ERA and has allowed four earned runs in 11 innings pitched. Sánchez has averaged 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings, showcasing his ability to miss bats.
- St. Louis Cardinals:
- Miles Mikolas: Mikolas is looking to rebound after a tough start to the season. He has an 11.25 ERA and has allowed 10 earned runs in eight innings pitched. Mikolas will need to improve his command to contain Philadelphia’s lineup.
Key Players to Watch
- Philadelphia Phillies:
- Kyle Schwarber: Schwarber leads the Phillies with six home runs and has been a consistent power threat, hitting .243 over the last ten games.
- Nick Castellanos: Castellanos has contributed seven RBIs and two home runs this season, providing valuable offensive support.
- St. Louis Cardinals:
- Nolan Arenado: Arenado has been a key contributor for the Cardinals, hitting .278 with three home runs and nine RBIs this season.
- Lars Nootbaar: Nootbaar has shown promise, hitting .300 over the last ten games and providing a spark at the plate.
Recent Form
- Phillies: Philadelphia is 6-4 in its last ten games, averaging 3.03 runs per game while allowing 3.34. They are coming off a series win against the Atlanta Braves and have outscored opponents by six runs during this stretch.
- Cardinals: St. Louis is 3-7 in its last ten games, averaging 5.70 runs per game while allowing 5.89. They are coming off a series loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates but showed resilience in their shutout victory over the Phillies in the series opener.
Game Dynamics
- Phillies’ Keys to Victory:
- Leverage their power hitters like Schwarber and Castellanos to challenge Mikolas early.
- Strong performance from Sánchez to keep the Cardinals’ offense in check.
- Capitalize on scoring opportunities, as St. Louis has struggled with consistency on the mound.
- Cardinals’ Keys to Victory:
- Build on their strong pitching performance from the series opener.
- Utilize their high team batting average to create scoring opportunities against Sánchez.
- Tighten up defensively to limit Philadelphia’s power hitters.
Philadelphia Phillies – 166
St. Louis Cardinals 8
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, April 11, 2025
