After a disappointing season opener Thursday, the Cardinals continue a West Coast series Friday against the high-powered Dodgers. First pitch is set for 9:10 p.m. (Ƶ time).
The game airs exclusively on Apple TV+.
Left-hander Zack Thompson will take the mound for the Cardinals. The 26-year-old has made 10 career starts, going 3-4 with a 5.01 ERA.
He's hoping some changes to his arsenal will improve his effectiveness, and his spring numbers (2.81 ERA in five outings, four of them starts) give reasons for optimism.
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Hitters teed off on his last season to the tune of a .327 batting average.
The Dodgers will counter with right-hander Bobby Miller, who went 11-4 with a 3.76 ERA last season as a rookie.
Miller's are far better than his ERA may indicate. He's above average in nearly every facet, pairing a 99mph fastball with four other solid pitches that he throws regularly. His fastball, sinker and curve all rank well.
Both Thompson and Miller were first-round draft picks in recent years, Miller 29th overall in 2020 and Thompson 19th overall in 2019, and both played their college baseball in the state of Kentucky.
In Thursday's opener, the Cardinals managed only three hits, all by Paul Goldschmidt, their fewest hits on opening day since 1986.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Brendan Donovan, LF
2. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
3. Nolan Gorman, 2B
4. Nolan Arenado, 3B
5. Willson Contreras, C
6. Alec Burleson, DH
7. Jordan Walker, RF
8. Victor Scott II, CF
9. Masyn Winn, SS
P: Zack Thompson, LHP
DODGERS
1. Mookie Betts, 2B
2. Shohei Ohtani, DH
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Will Smith, C
5. Max Muncy, 3B
6. Teoscar Hernández, RF
7. Enrique Hernández, CF
8. Chris Taylor, LF
9. Miguel Rojas, SS
P: Bobby Miller, RHP
Injury report
Sonny Gray (hamstring): On the 15-day injured list, Gray will start for Class AAA Memphis on Wednesday in his first rehab assignment appearance, and his next outing after that could be in the majors. Gray threw the equivalent of three innings in a live batting practice session Friday in Jupiter, Florida. Gray injured his hamstring in the first week of March. He is expected to join the rotation during the first home stand.
Lars Nootbaar (fractured ribs): On the 10-day IL, Nootbaar had eight at-bats during live batting practice Friday and he was able to test how his ribs felt when he had some game-speed swings and misses. He will play four innings and take four at-bats Saturday in minor-league game. The next step for him is likely to be a minor-league rehab assignment with an advanced affiliate. The Cardinals will determine his readiness to join the team for the first home series of the season based on his feel at the plate and his comfort taking game-speed swings and rotation of his torso. Nootbaar injured the ribs during a crash into the wall midway through spring training.
Dylan Carlson (sprained shoulder): On 10-day IL, Carlson returned to Ƶ for additional exams to determine the degree of separation and damage in his left shoulder. During Monday’s exhibition game against the Cubs, Carlson sustained an AC joint sprain during a collision with teammate Jordan Walker. The Cardinals were initially encouraged that he’ll miss “a matter of weeks, not months.”
Keynan Middleton (forearm strain): On the 15-day IL, Middleton has continued a throwing program that will put him off the mound around April 5. He is building strength after having to stop throwing late in spring training. He’ll have some bullpen sessions before advancing to a live batting practice with minor-leaguers in Jupiter. Within a week of testing his arm against hitters, he could be on a rehab assignment and headed toward the majors.
Tommy Edman (wrist surgery): On the 10-day IL, returned to Ƶ to shift his rehab to a strengthening program before he makes another attempt to resume baseball activities. He will strengthen the area around the wrist before attempting swings. He will have an MRI on April 3 to determine if he can begin swinging that day. The switch-hitting utility fielder has had his program slowed significantly after several setbacks during spring training. Edman had wrist surgery in October, but during spring training was unable to get deep into the hitting program because of recurring discomfort in the surgically repaired left wrist. The Cardinals do not believe that his absence will be 60 days into the season, as evidenced by them not placing him on the 60-day IL to start the year.
Drew Rom (biceps tendinitis): On the 15-day IL, Rom experienced the soreness in his left arm shortly before the end of spring training. He was able to resume playing catch and throwing at a distance before the team left Florida. He’ll be on a throwing program to rebuild arm strength and ready for a likely assignment to Class AAA Memphis’ rotation.