Milwaukee Brewers vs St. Louis Cardinals Picks and Predictions September 2nd 2024

Freddy Peralta, Brewers Aim to Start New Streak vs. Cardinals

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta, coming off his best month of the season, will look to carry his August success into September as he takes the mound against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. This matchup marks the opener of a three-game series between the National League Central rivals.

Peralta’s Dominant August

Peralta (9-7, 3.70 ERA) was in fine form throughout August, posting a 3-1 record with a 2.89 ERA across five starts. His recent performances have underscored his growing confidence and effectiveness on the mound, with Brewers manager Pat Murphy praising Peralta’s determination and growth.

“He’s very hungry,” Murphy said. “Now, he’s showing why the organization had that much faith in him to make him the ace. He’s getting better. He’s getting better. He’s eliminating some of the things he’s done in the past that have gotten him in trouble. He’s started to believe again in his fastball.”

Peralta enters Monday’s game on the back of two scoreless outings. He pitched five innings of shutout ball in a no-decision against the Cardinals on August 22 and followed that up with six scoreless innings in a win over the San Francisco Giants last Wednesday.

“I don’t think I lost the confidence for the whole season, but sometimes things don’t go your way,” Peralta said. “I told you guys before that I knew that at some point I was going to feel good and everything was going to work again. I’ve been seeing that a little bit now.”

Throughout his career, Peralta has faced the Cardinals 18 times, including 14 starts, compiling a 3-6 record with a 4.90 ERA. This season, Peralta has pitched against St. Louis three times, including a six-inning shutout in Milwaukee’s 2-1, 10-inning win on April 19 and a six-inning, three-run outing in a 5-3 Brewers victory on May 11.

Cardinals Look to Continue Momentum

The Cardinals come into the series after a high-scoring 14-7 triumph over the New York Yankees on Sunday, which gave them a series win. St. Louis will be hoping to expand on that energy as they take in a Brewers group that holds an agreeable nine-game lead over the Chicago Fledglings in the NL Focal.

St. Louis intends to begin right-hander Andre Pallante in Monday’s down. Pallante (6-6, 3.80 Time) has been in great structure recently, assembling four successive strong beginnings with a 2-0 record and a 2.13 Period over that range.

In his last trip, Pallante restricted the San Diego Padres to two sudden spikes in demand for eight hits more than 5 2/3 innings, leaving with a 3-2 lead in a game the Cardinals ultimately won 4-3. While he didn’t factor into the choice, Pallante communicated fulfillment with his methodology.

“I just tried to make good pitches,” Pallante said. “They weren’t great pitches, but they were good pitches.”

Pallante has faced the Brewers 12 times in his career, all in relief, posting a 4.08 ERA without any decisions. He last pitched against Milwaukee on April 20, when he allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits over three innings in a 12-5 Cardinals loss.

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Matchup Outlook

As the Brewers mean to return from a tight 4-3, 11-inning misfortune to the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, they will depend on Peralta to broaden his new predominance and assist Milwaukee with beginning another series of wins. The Cardinals, in the mean time, will shift focus over to Pallante to keep their new force alive and take the primary round of this significant divisional series.

With the two groups having a great deal on the line — Milwaukee trying to set their division lead and St. Louis attempting to keep their season finisher trusts alive — Monday’s down vows to be a vital fight in the race for the postseason.