Saturday presents a major opportunity for the Cardinals to eclipse the .500 mark, a place they haven't reached in two seasons.
After Friday's series-opening win vs. the Cubs moved the Cardinals' record to .500 (34-34), a win Saturday could give the Redbirds a winning mark for the first time since the end of the 2022 season, not including the first nine games of this season.
First pitch set for 1:20 p.m. Saturday as the Cardinals continue their road series against the Cubs.
The last time they climbed back to the .500 mark, in May, the Cardinals lost six of nine. They've been above .500 once this year, at 5-4 after an April 6 win over Miami.
Last season, the team was underwater the entire way.
On Saturday, right-hander Andre Pallante (2-2, 4.88) will take the mound for the Cardinals.
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Since taking the fifth-starter job, Pallante has a 3.86 ERA in three starts, all of the six runs he's allowed as a starter this year coming in one abbreviated outing in Houston.
A former California-Irvine Anteater, Pallante's 52.5% groundball rate would rate in the top 10 of MLB starters if he qualified.
The Cubs will counter with left-hander Shota Imanaga (6-1, 1.96), who will face ºüÀêÊÓƵ for the first time. Imanaga, a 30-year-old rookie from Japan, was to start the series opener at Busch last month, but rain postponed that game.
Imanaga, a top Rookie of the Year candidate, has allowed two or fewer earned runs in all but one of his 12 starts.
His fastball has been one of the most valuable in baseball despite only averaging 91.8mph. It moves 2.8 inches higher than the average fastball.
Pedro Pages gets the start at catcher for the third consecutive day after his go-ahead home run Friday.
The Cardinals are 34-34, second in the NL Central and looking to create some separation from the other three middling divisional teams stacked up behind them.
The Cubs are 33-37 and 9-20 over the last month after a strong start.
Since May 13, the Cubs' .627 OPS is third-worst in baseball. The Cardinals, at .739, are in the top 10 in that same stretch.
The game also airs on Fox Sports 1 in addition to the Bally Sports Midwest broadcast. Adam Wainwright is in the broadcast booth for FS1.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Masyn Winn, SS
2. Alec Burleson, RF
3. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
4. Nolan Arenado, 3B
5. Nolan Gorman, 2B
6. Iván Herrera, DH
7. Dylan Carlson, CF
8. Brendan Donovan, LF
9. Pedro Pagés, C
P: Andre Pallante, RHP
CUBS
1. Mike Tauchman, DH
2. Christopher Morel, 3B
3. Cody Bellinger, 1B
4. Seiya Suzuki, RF
5. Ian Happ, LF
6. Nico Hoerner, 2B
7. Dansby Swanson, SS
8. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
9. Yan Gomes, C
P: Shota Imanaga, RHP
Injury report
Lars Nootbaar (oblique strain):ÌýOutfielder has started torso movements and could be cleared to swing a bat by this weekend, while the team is at Wrigley Field. He has responded well to increased movements of his core muscles and tests of the area injured. Manager Oliver Marmol called the strain "moderate," but the Cardinals are braced for Nootbaar to miss several weeks. It is the second time this season that he is on the injured list and the latest injury comes a few days after the Cardinals proactively gave Nootbaar time off to avoid a hamstring injury.ÌýUpdated June 13Ìý
Giovanny Gallegos (right shoulder impingement): Right-handed reliever threw an inning Friday for Class AA Springfield, giving up three runs on three hits, only one of which left the infield. Gallegos responded well to throwing more than an inning, and with the Cardinals' input opted not to throw back-to-back days before returning the majors. According to the Cardinals' internal numbers, Gallegos velocity was back to his pre-injury level.ÌýUpdated June 15
Willson Contreras (fractured arm):ÌýCatcher took batting practice Thursday against a coach in the batting cage adjacent to the clubhouse. It was his most aggressive work yet with a bat since fracturing his arm. He's been able to catch bullpen sessions without soreness and he'll advance in the cage and into more aggressive BP depending on how he feels each day. Contreras will stay in ºüÀêÊÓƵ to work at the ballpark while the team is on the road, and he's eying a rehab assignment that could begin around June 18. Contreras is eager to push the timetable for his return, he said.ÌýUpdated June 13
Tommy Edman (wrist surgery):ÌýSwitch-hitter is taking batting practice from both sides of the plate, and he participated batting practice on the field with teammates for the first time Tuesday. Edman's workout is similar to how his teammates prepare for games with coach-pitch batting practice, and he will advance from these workouts to pitching machine and higher velocities. Internally, the Cardinals are expecting the return of their center fielder around the All-Star break. John Mozeliak, the team's president of baseball operations, told attendees of the Cardinals' annual "Blogger Day" that Edman is expected to return before the end of this month.ÌýUpdated June 13
Steven Matz (lower back stiffness):ÌýThe lefty will start Sunday for Class AA Springfield and aim for around 50 pitches. This is a significant moment in his rehab. Depending on how he recovers from this start, he'll either repeat that target number or advance deeper into the game where effectiveness also becomes part of the factor determining his return date.ÌýUpdated June 13
Keynan Middleton (forearm strain):ÌýAn update on Middleton's season-ending surgery is available here. He came out of surgery Tuesday, according to manager Oli Marmol.ÌýUpdated June 11
Riley O'Brien (flexor tendon):ÌýReliever will officially began his rehab assignment Saturday with Class AA Springfield. He'll be assigned a single inning. That schedule sets up for him to pitch again Tuesday. Originally on the 15-day injured list retroactive to March 29, O'Brien was moved to the 60-day list on May 10, about two weeks after beginning a throwing progression.ÌýUpdated June 13
Nick Robertson (elbow inflammation):ÌýRobertson will travel to Springfield, Mo., to throw a live batting practice session for hitters there on Friday. If he recovers from that well, he could begin a rehab assignment imminently, even as early as Tuesday, if not before. He experienced a “little tightness†in his elbow during a throwing session in late May.ÌýUpdated June 13