Dueling Aces to Deal for Hot Cardinals, Slumping Giants

The St. Louis Cardinals are on a roll as they host the San Francisco Giants in the finale of their three-game series on Sunday. Riding a wave of momentum, the Cardinals are eager to extend their winning streak and improve their playoff prospects during this 10-game homestand. Fans can expect a thrilling pitching duel between aces Sonny Gray and Logan Webb.

Cardinals’ Winning Streak

The Cardinals have been hot, winning seven of their last ten games, including a 6-5 win in Birmingham and a 9-4 victory at home. This streak has them looking to go two games over .500 for the first time this season. Outfielder Alec Burleson’s standout performance on Saturday, with two home runs and five RBIs, showcases the team’s potential as they find their rhythm.

“Obviously we’ve had our ups and downs this season already, but we’re not even halfway through yet,” Burleson said. “We’ve got a lot of ball to play left and I’m just excited for this team to start clicking.”

Giants’ Recent Struggles

The Giants are in a bit of a funk, having lost four straight games. Injuries and inconsistent performances have made things tough. With a playoff spot slipping further away, the Giants are desperate to change their fortunes and avoid a sweep in St. Louis.

Pitching Duel: Sonny Gray vs. Logan Webb

Sonny Gray (Cardinals)

• Record: 8-4, 2.95 ERA
• Recent Performance: Gray’s last outing was his longest of the season, holding the Marlins to two runs over 7 2/3 innings on just 84 pitches.
• Career Against Giants: 2-1 with a 3.27 ERA in six starts.
• Key Strategy: Attacking the middle of the plate early to induce swings.

“I was just taking on the mindset of I’m going to attack the middle part of the plate early. They’re going to swing early. I knew that,” Gray explained after his last start.

Logan Webb (Giants)

• Record: 6-5, 2.99 ERA
• Recent Performance: Webb has logged quality starts in seven of his past eight outings, including a solid two-run, seven-inning performance against the Cubs.
• Career Against Cardinals: 3-2 with a 5.17 ERA in six starts.
• Emotional Challenge: Webb had to pitch through the emotional news of Giants legend Willie Mays’ passing during his last start.

“I kind of looked at the umpire and I was like, ‘I think you need to stop the clock.’ I needed to take a moment and think about it and be prideful for the jersey I was wearing,” Webb said.

Team Changes and Injuries

Giants

• Injured List: Mike Yastrzemski (oblique strain), Keaton Winn (elbow inflammation).
• Call-ups: Luis Matos and David Villar from Triple-A Sacramento.
• Yastrzemski’s Perspective: “It was good to use my brain and not try to push through it,” Yastrzemski told NBC Sports Bay Area.

Cardinals

• Roster Moves: Activated reliever Giovanny Gallegos (shoulder impingement), returned Adam Kloffenstein to Triple-A Memphis, placed catcher Ivan Herrera (back tightness) on the injured list, promoted catcher Nick Raposo.
• Injuries: Outfielder Michael Siani (bruised ribs) and third baseman Nolan Arenado (left forearm discomfort) are questionable.

Conclusion

Sunday’s game between the Cardinals and Giants is set to be a captivating showdown between two top-tier pitchers. The Cardinals are looking to extend their winning streak and solidify their playoff position, while the Giants aim to break their losing streak and regain momentum. The performances of Sonny Gray and Logan Webb will be key, as both teams navigate recent injuries and roster changes.