ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
RECENT REDBIRDS: The St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets wrap up their three-game weekend series this afternoon at Citi Field as the Redbirds continue their 11-day, eight-game international road trip through New York (1-1), the nation’s capital to play the Nationals (June 9-21), and then across the pond in London, England to face the division-rival Cubs (June 24-25) … The Cardinals ended a six-game losing streak yesterday and are looking for the first winning series since May 19-21 vs. the Dodgers at Busch Stadium (2-1).
FLIGHT PATTERN: St. Louis enters today in last place in the NL Central, 8.5 games behind 1st place Milwaukee and 5.5 games behind 4th place Chicago … The Cardinals have spent 53 of 80 days in last place on this season’s MLB schedule (April 26-May 19 and May 29-present) … This season is the Cardinals slowest start since beginning 25-46 (.352) in 1978.
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY: The Cardinals are 21-29 all-time on Father’s Day (8- 15 on the road) since 1972 when President Richard M. Nixon recognized the third Sunday in June as an official holiday … The Cardinals and Mets have faced off on Father’s Day on six occasions (St. Louis is 3-3) … The two teams have met in New York twice, first in 1992 in a 6-2 Cards defeat at Shea Stadium highlighted by a go-ahead, three-run homer by former Cardinal and Met Vince Coleman … In 2019, Paul DeJong hit a game-winning home run off Chris Flexen in the 8th inning of a 4-3 St. Louis win at Citi Field.
START SPREADING THE NEWS: Despite a 23-26 all-time record at Citi Field, St. Louis enters today winners of nine of its last 14 games in Queens while outscoring the Mets 76-59 … The Cards win yesterday was their 200th road victory in New York since the Mets joined the NL as an expansion team in 1962.
HEIR JORDAN: Jordan Walker has hit in 10 straight (.400/.462/.743, 14-35) since June 6, MLB’s 3rd-longest active hitting streak behind Shohei Ohtani (14) and Mookie Betts (11).
- Walker opened the season by hitting in his first 12 games, establishing a Cardinals rookie record to begin a career and tying Eddie Murphy (1912 Philadelphia Athletics) for the MLB record for longest by a player age 20 or younger.
- Walker joins Albert Pujols (three in 2001) and Rogers Hornsby (two in 1916) as the third Cardinal age 21 or younger with multiple double-digit game hitting streaks in the same season.
- MLB Pipeline’s top overall prospect in baseball has hit safely in 28-of-33 games with a PA this season, with his 36 career hits coming off 35 different pitchers from all 11 opponents he’s played against.
YOUNG LEFTIES IN GOTHAM: Matthew Liberatore’s start today will be the 23rd in franchise history made by a left-handed Cardinal age 23 or younger vs. the Mets in New York … Prior to Liberatore, the last few to do so were Allen Watson (age 22-316) on Sept. 30, 1993, Donovan Osborne (age 22-307) on April 23, 1992, and Joe Magrane (age 23-289) on April 16, 1988.
- Vinegar Bend Mizell was the most recent Cardinal to do so at both the New York Giants (age 23-012) on Aug. 25, 1953 (G1) at the Polo Grounds and at the Brooklyn Dodgers (age 22-338) on July 17, 1953 (G1) at Ebbets Field.
- Ray Sadecki is the only left-handed Cardinal age 23 or younger to start in New York against the Yankees, doing so in Game 4 of the 1964 World Series (October 11).
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: LHP MATTHEW LIBERATORE (1-2, 5.14)
TODAY’S GAME
- Making his 5th start of the season (6th app.) and 12th career start (15th app.). This will be his first career start and appearance against the New York Mets.
- Is making his first career start and appearance against a new opponent for the 4th straight start (Cleveland, Texas, San Francisco & New York-NL).
- Has made eight of 11 career starts on the road. Still looking for his first career winning road decision (0-4, 8.04 ERA, 31.1 IP).
- Is 3-0 career in his home starts.
- Holding opposition to an .077 BA (1-13) with his curveball, 5th-best among MLB pitched (min. 15 PA). Civale (.042), E. Perez (.050), Pruitt (.053), Urquidy (.071).
- Holding opposing LHB to .150 BA (3-20) and RHB .317 (20-63). Issued his first walk of the 2023 season to a left-handed batter in his last start vs. SF (6/12) – M. Conforto.
- The Cardinals are 6-5 in his 11 career starts and 9-5 overall in his 14 total appearances.
LAST TIME OUT
- Pitched a career high 6.0 innings while limiting the Giants to a pair of runs in a no-decision on Monday at Busch Stadium. Exited with a 3-2 lead as San Francisco came from behind to win 4-3.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
6/12 SF L 4-3 — 6.0 7 2 2 2 5 0 86-57
2023 SEASON
- Allowed his 1st HR of the 2023 season in his start at TEX (6/6). The 3rd inning solo HR by the Rangers’ Nathanial Lowe snapped his string of 13.0 homerless innings pitched to begin the season.
- Began the season with Memphis (AAA) and made eight starts before getting recalled to St. Louis for a May 17 start vs. Milwaukee.
- Made his 2023 debut and threw 5.0 scoreless innings of three-hit ball with three walks and six strikeouts. Posted the exact same line in each of his first two starts vs. the Brewers (5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 SO).
- Named Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Month and International League Pitcher of the Month for April with a 3-0 mark and 2.14 ERA over 33.2 innings pitched with 45 strikeouts covering six starts in March/April.
- Was leading all Minor League pitchers at any level with 46.0 innings pitched and all Triple-A pitchers with 56 strikeouts (3rd in MiLB) at the time of his recall.
- Posted a 10-strikeout game at Gwinnett (4/12).
- Named Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April and International League Pitcher of the Month for April with a 3-0 mark and 2.14 ERA over 33.2 innings pitched with 45 strikeouts covering six starts in March/April.
NEW YORK METS NOTES:
No team release available.
