Amid a long, grinding season, Thursday's game stands out.
It will be far more than just a game when the Cardinals face the Giants at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, the oldest professional ballpark and a place that exudes history.
The game pays tribute to the Negro Leagues. Willie Mays, who died Tuesday, first played professional baseball here, his hometown, for the Birmingham Black Barons.
All told, 182 Hall of Famers have played at Rickwood Field.
First pitch Thursday is set for 6:15 p.m. and the game airs on Fox and KTVI (Channel 2) in ºüÀêÊÓƵ.
Right-hander Andre Pallante (2-3, 4.61) will take the mound for the Cardinals. In four starts since moving into the rotation, Pallante has a 3.66 ERA.
He was pulled in the fourth inning of his last start after encountering some trouble and with right-handed batters ahead. Righties are hitting .396 vs. Pallante this season.
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His groundball rate (59.1%) as among the best in baseball.
The Giants will counter with right-hander Keaton Winn (3-7, 6.66), a 26-year-old rookie from the tiny southeastern Iowa town of Ollie (population 160).
Winn has a 13.02 ERA in his last five starts after beginning his season strong with a 3.18 mark in April.
Thursday's start will be his third since a forearm injury kept him out three-plus weeks in late May and early June.
His fastball averages 95.7mph.
The Cardinals are 36-37, second in the NL Central. They've played four straight one-run games, two of them requiring extra innings.
After playing extras on both Monday and Tuesday then a late scratch Wednesday to starter Kyle Gibson, the Redbirds' bullpen has seen a heavy workload.
The Giants are 36-39, tied for second in the NL West. They've lost two straight series, to the Angels and Cubs.
San Francisco's bullpen has thrown 300-plus innings, the highest total in baseball and 60-plus innings more than the Cardinals' 'pen.
Before the game, the Cardinals called up right-hander Adam Kloffenstein and sent fellow right-hander Chris Roycroft to Memphis. Outfielder Victor Scott II will serve as the permitted 27th man.
After an off day Friday, the three-game series continues at Busch Stadium on Saturday.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Masyn.Winn, SS
2. Alec Burleson, RF
3. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
4. Nolan Gorman, 2B
5. Brendan Donovan, LF
6. Matt Carpenter, DH
7. Brandon Crawford, 3B
8. Pedro Pages, C
9. Michael Siani, CF
P: Andre Pallante, RHP
GIANTS
1.ÌýBrett Wisely, 2B
2.ÌýHeliot Ramos, CF
3.ÌýPatrick Bailey, C
4.ÌýMatt Chapman, 3B
5.ÌýMichael Conforto, LF
6.ÌýJorge Soler, DH
7.ÌýWilmer Flores, 1B
8.ÌýMike Yastrzemski, RF
9.ÌýNick Ahmed, SS
P: Keaton Winn, RHP
Injury report
Tommy Edman (wrist surgery):ÌýEdman shifted his rehab to the club's spring training complex in Jupiter, Florida, this week. His workouts are similar to a spring training buildup at this point. He's expected to resume working out with the team in ºüÀêÊÓƵ when the club returns to Busch Stadium.ÌýUpdated June 19
Riley O'Brien (flexor tendon):ÌýThe right-hander was slated to pitch for ÌýDouble-A Springfield on Tuesday, June 18, however he had trouble bouncing back from his last outing.ÌýHe did not pitch on Tuesday. He was set to have an MRI this week.ÌýUpdated June 19
Giovanny Gallegos (right shoulder impingement):ÌýRight-handed reliever joined the club Monday in Miami but hasn't been activated. He threw a bullpen session in front of the Cardinals’ major league pitching coaches on Monday. He could rejoin the team as early as Thursday's game in Alabama.ÌýUpdated June 19
Lars Nootbaar (oblique strain):ÌýOutfielder has started taking swings off a tee. He has responded well to increased movements of his core muscles and tests of the area injured. President John Mozeliak on Tuesday targeted a late-June or early-July return.ÌýUpdated June 19
Steven Matz (lower back stiffness):ÌýThe lefty started Sunday for Class AA Springfield and threw three perfect innings, with five strikeouts on June 16. However, he experienced lingering soreness in the days following that outing. He was headed to Los Angeles on Wednesday to receive a second medial opinion.ÌýUpdated June 19
Nick Robertson (elbow inflammation):ÌýRobertson traveled to Springfield, Missouri, to throw a live batting practice session on Friday. He began a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday, June 18. He allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in one inning for Triple-A Memphis.ÌýUpdated June 19
Willson Contreras (fractured arm):ÌýThe catcher began a rehab assignment Tuesday afternoon with Triple-A Memphis, serving as the designated hitter and going 1 for 3 with a single and a strikeout. Contreras is scheduled to catch five innings for Memphis on Wednesday. It's not yet known how long his assignment will extend. Updated June 18