Cards vs Guardians - Series Finale on Jackie Robinson Day

The Cardinal Chronicle
Game Day Preview — Cards vs Guardians - Series Finale on Jackie Robinson Day
St. Louis, Mo.
By Ray Mileur

The St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Guardians meet this afternoon at Busch Stadium in the rubber game of their three-game interleague series.

First pitch is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. CT.

The series is tied 1-1 after Cleveland’s 9-3 win in the opener and St. Louis’ 6-5 extra-inning victory Tuesday night. Wednesday’s matchup also falls on Jackie Robinson Day, with all players wearing No. 42 in honor of his legacy.

 
Pitching Matchup

Right-hander Dustin May (1-2, 9.45 ERA) gets the start for St. Louis, while Cleveland counters with right-hander Slade Cecconi (0-2, 5.74 ERA).

May is coming off his strongest outing of the season, holding Boston to one earned run over six innings in his last start. The Cardinals will look for a similar performance as he continues to settle in after a slow start.

Cecconi has struggled early, allowing 10 earned runs across his first three outings. Cleveland will need improved command to keep the Cardinals’ offense in check.

 
Inside the Matchup

St. Louis enters the finale looking to build off Tuesday’s comeback win, which snapped a three-game losing streak. The Cardinals showed resilience, rallying late before winning in the 10th inning.

Jordan Walker continues to lead the offense, pacing the majors with eight home runs and carrying a 1.120 OPS into the day. Rookie JJ Wetherholt provided a spark Tuesday night with a two-home run performance and will look to stay hot.

Cleveland remains a balanced club despite a slow start from José Ramírez, who is hitting .200 through the first 17 games. Rookie Chase DeLauter has been a bright spot, collecting nine extra-base hits in his first 15 major league games.

 
What to Watch

For the Cardinals, the focus remains on consistency.

The offense showed signs of life Tuesday, but production beyond Walker and Wetherholt remains a question. On the mound, May’s ability to limit hard contact will be key against a Cleveland lineup capable of putting pressure on pitching staffs.

For the Guardians, getting length from Cecconi and stabilizing early innings will be critical after inconsistent starting pitching to open the series.

 
The Bottom Line

This is a tone-setter game.

The Cardinals have a chance to win the series and carry momentum into their upcoming road trip. The Guardians are looking to regain control after letting Tuesday’s game slip away.

Early-season series don’t define a season.

But they do reveal how a club responds.

 
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Rubber game at Busch Stadium today as the Cardinals and Guardians wrap up their series on Jackie Robinson Day. Full Game Day Preview from The Cardinal Chronicle.

 
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The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports