The Cardinals enter Game 3 of this series riding a two-game winning streak, having outscored San Diego 6-2 in the first two contests. St. Louis is 7-3 over their last ten and plays with confidence at Busch Stadium (21-16 home record). Kyle Leahy gets the ball for the Cardinals and is a serviceable mid-rotation arm — but his 4.64 ERA and 1.55 WHIP signal he can be vulnerable. His velocity sits in the 89-93 mph range with a six-pitch mix that generates average whiff rates. He'll need to keep Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado off base to navigate this Padres lineup. San Diego's pitching situation is genuinely chaotic entering this finale. With Musgrove, Pivetta, Waldron, Márquez, and Hoeing all on the IL, the Padres are scraping for arms. Mason Miller — their elite closer — was just placed on the bereavement list June 15th. The absence of Miller is massive for late-game leverage. Kyle Hart, recalled from Triple-A El Paso, is a candidate for bullpen work. The TBD starter designation further clouds San Diego's path. Offensively, Jordan Walker (.297, 18 HR, 56 RBI) and Alec Burleson (.287, 13 HR, 52 RBI) form a productive Cardinals core. The Padres counter with Tatis Jr. (.279) and Machado (12 HR), but Machado's .177 batting average signals he's in a significant slump. Xander Bogaerts (.226) and Jackson Merrill (.205) add depth but aren't inspiring confidence. Jake Cronenworth is out with a concussion, further thinning the San Diego lineup. The 90-degree heat and SSW 24 mph wind at Busch could affect fly balls. Cardinals bullpen holds the edge with Miller unavailable for San Diego.

Scoring Dynamics

Early (1-3) 2R TBD arm creates early uncertainty

Middle (4-6) 4R Leahy tires mid-game, runs expected

Late (7-9) 2R Cards bullpen holds slim lead at home

Matchup Analysis

Cardinals

Series momentum W2

Walker/Burleson run production

Strong home run differential

Leahy high WHIP 1.55

Ramón Urías out at 3B

Padres

Tatis Jr. hot at .279

Machado 12 HR power threat

Road record 18-16 solid

Depleted pitching staff TBD

Multiple key IL absences

Risk Factors

TBD starter unpredictability

SSW 24 mph wind factor

Key Matchups

Walker, Jordan vs TBD batter Walker's .297 avg vs unknown arm favors the slugger

Tatis Jr., Fernando vs Kyle Leahy batter Leahy's 1.55 WHIP gives Tatis room to work counts

Machado, Manny vs Kyle Leahy pitcher Machado .177 avg suggests deep slump vs any arm

Statistical Edges

First to Score Padres 54%

Strikeouts 14 11-17

Total Runs 8 6-11

Game Preview

The rubber match unfolds under a blazing St. Louis afternoon sun, with Busch Stadium's crowd expecting the Cardinals to complete the sweep. Kyle Leahy takes the hill having found a rhythm over his last three starts — each under 80 pitches — and he'll try to exploit a Padres lineup missing Cronenworth and Andujar. San Diego strikes first in the opening inning when Tatis Jr. works a walk and eventually scores on a Ty France groundout, making it 1-0. But the Cardinals answer in the second when Jordan Walker hammers a TBD pitch into the left-field seats for a solo home run to tie it. The fourth inning turns the game: Alec Burleson doubles to lead off, Ivan Herrera singles him in, and a Padres error allows a second run to score, putting St. Louis up 3-1. Leahy labors through the fifth, surrendering a solo shot to Machado — one of those opposite-field blasts that comes out of a slump — cutting the deficit to 3-2. The Cardinals bullpen takes over in the sixth and seventh, holding firm. St. Louis tacks on an insurance run in the sixth on a JJ Wetherholt RBI single and another in the eighth on a Walker sacrifice fly. Without Mason Miller available to slam the door, San Diego's depleted 'pen allows the Cardinals to finish with a 5-3 victory, completing a series sweep at home.

Confidence is moderate at 58 due to the Padres' TBD starter creating significant uncertainty. Cardinals hold clear series momentum, bullpen edge without Miller, and superior lineup health, but unknown arm could change the dynamic dramatically.

Pravdepodobni nadhazeci

San Diego Padres — Soupiska

Hráč	Poz.	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Fernando Tatis Jr.	RF	.284	2	26	.348	.353
Samad Taylor	LF	.343	1	8	.410	.457
Jackson Merrill	CF	.213	8	30	.277	.358
Manny Machado	3B	.177	12	36	.258	.358
Gavin Sheets	DH	.225	11	30	.315	.441
Xander Bogaerts	SS	.226	8	28	.307	.342
Ty France	1B	.245	6	19	.294	.434
Sung-Mun Song	2B	.196	0	4	.288	.217
Rodolfo Durán	C	.159	3	6	.288	.432

St. Louis Cardinals — Soupiska

Hráč	Poz.	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
JJ Wetherholt	2B	.259	10	31	.360	.399
Iván Herrera	DH	.261	9	31	.398	.420
Alec Burleson	1B	.285	13	53	.347	.488
Jordan Walker	RF	.288	18	56	.341	.537
Lars Nootbaar	LF	.268	2	6	.367	.463
Masyn Winn	SS	.234	2	26	.316	.314
Pedro Pagés	C	.228	4	10	.267	.374
Blaze Jordan	3B	.286	1	5	.318	.571
José Fermín	CF	.265	2	12	.318	.378

Skórovací akce

▲ 1

Manny Machado out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Jordan Walker. Samad Taylor scores.

1-0

▲ 4

Xander Bogaerts singles on a sharp ground ball to right fielder Jordan Walker. Manny Machado scores.

2-0

▲ 5

Fernando Tatis Jr. doubles (11) on a sharp line drive to center fielder Nathan Church. Will Wagner scores.

3-0

▼ 5

Alec Burleson singles on a line drive to right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. Nathan Church scores. Iván Herrera to 2nd.

3-1

▲ 9

Padres challenged (tag play), call on the field was upheld: Fernando Tatis Jr. singles on a sharp line drive to right fielder Jordan Walker. Sung-Mun Song scores. Fernando Tatis Jr. out at 2nd on the throw, right fielder Jordan Walker to shortstop Masyn Winn.

4-1

▲ 9

Umpire reviewed (home run), call on the field was upheld: Jackson Merrill homers (8) on a fly ball to right field. Samad Taylor scores.

6-1

San Diego Padres — Pálkování

Hráč	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
Fernando Tatis Jr.RF	5	0	3	2	0	0	0	.284	.701
Samad TaylorLF	4	2	1	0	1	2	0	.343	.867
Jackson MerrillCF	5	1	3	2	0	2	1	.213	.635
Manny Machado3B	3	1	1	1	1	0	0	.177	.616
Gavin SheetsDH	4	0	1	0	1	2	0	.225	.756
Xander BogaertsSS	4	0	2	1	0	0	0	.226	.649
Ty France1B	5	0	0	0	0	2	0	.245	.728
Sung-Mun Song2B	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	.196	.505
Rodolfo DuránC	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	.159	.720
Celkem	38	6	14	6	3	9	1

BATTING

2B: Machado, M (11, Leahy); Tatis Jr. (11, Leahy); Durán (3, Svanson).

HR: Merrill (8, 9th inning off Roycroft, 1 on, 2 out).

TB: Bogaerts 2; Durán 2; Machado, M 2; Merrill 6; Sheets; Song; Tatis Jr. 4; Taylor, S; Wagner.

RBI: Bogaerts (28); Machado, M (36); Merrill 2 (30); Tatis Jr. 2 (26).

2-out RBI: Merrill 2.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Tatis Jr.; Sheets; Merrill 2; France, T 4; Bogaerts.

SF: Machado, M.

GIDP: France, T; Wagner.

Team RISP: 4-for-14.

Team LOB: 10.

BASERUNNING

SB: Merrill (12, 2nd base off Leahy/Crooks); Tatis Jr. (18, 2nd base off Leahy/Crooks); Taylor, S (4, 2nd base off Roycroft/Pagés, P).

FIELDING

Pickoffs: Hart (Winn at 1st base).

DP: 2 (Song-Bogaerts-France, T; Bogaerts-France, T).

St. Louis Cardinals — Pálkování

Hráč	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OPS
JJ Wetherholt2B	4	0	1	0	0	0	.259	.759
Iván HerreraDH	3	0	1	0	0	0	.261	.818
Alec Burleson1B	4	0	1	1	0	1	.285	.835
Jordan WalkerRF	4	0	0	0	0	0	.288	.878
Lars NootbaarLF	4	0	1	0	0	2	.268	.830
Masyn WinnSS	3	0	1	0	1	0	.234	.630
Pedro PagésC	1	0	0	0	0	0	.228	.641
Blaze Jordan3B	2	0	0	0	1	0	.286	.889
José FermínCF	1	0	0	0	0	0	.265	.696
Celkem	30	1	6	1	3	4

BATTING

TB: Burleson; Church; Herrera; Nootbaar; Wetherholt; Winn.

RBI: Burleson (53).

2-out RBI: Burleson.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Walker, J 2.

GIDP: Burleson; Winn.

Team RISP: 1-for-5.

Team LOB: 6.

BASERUNNING

SB: Herrera (5, 2nd base off Rodriguez, B/Durán).

CS: Winn (2, 2nd base by Hart/Durán).

PO: Winn (1st base by Hart).

FIELDING

E: Winn (6, fielding).

Outfield assists: Walker, J (Tatis Jr. at 2nd base).

DP: 2 (Wetherholt-Winn-Burleson; Winn-Wetherholt-Burleson).

a-Struck out for Crooks in the 6th.

b-Flied out for Church in the 7th.

San Diego Padres — Nadhazování

Nadhazovač	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	PC-ST	ERA
Bradgley Rodriguez	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	17-12	2.10
Griffin Canning(W, 1-5)	4.1	4	1	1	3	2	77-47	6.64
Kyle Hart(H, 5)	1.2	0	0	0	0	1	11-8	4.43
Jason Adam(H, 16)	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	11-6	1.71
Adrian Morejon	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	12-8	3.89

St. Louis Cardinals — Nadhazování

Nadhazovač	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Kyle Leahy(L, 5-4)	6.0	7	3	3	1	7	0	81-57	4.63
Matt Svanson	1.1	1	0	0	0	1	0	16-10	7.11
Justin Bruihl	0.1	2	0	0	0	0	0	12-9	4.50
Chris Roycroft	1.1	4	3	3	2	1	1	42-22	15.19

Informace o zápase

Rozhodčí: Home Plate: James Jean; First Base: Chris Segal; Second Base: Laz Diaz; Third Base: Nic Lentz

Stadion: Busch Stadium, St. Louis

Počasí: 85°F, Cloudy

Vítr: 22 mph, R To L

San Diego Padres — Zpravy

Padres Zrušují Ty Adcocka, Uvolňují Marco Gonzalesa

San Diego uvolňuje místo na seznamu 40 hráčů, zatímco stojí na 37-35 s rozdílem skóre -14 v NL West. Oba tahy zahrnují marginální vrhače bez podstatného dopadu na MLB 2026.

Ty Adcock

San Diego Padres

Padres posílá Bryce Johnsona do Triple-A

Johnson prošel waiverům poté, co dosáhl průměru .178/.173/.222 v omezeném počtu startů v MLB v této sezóně. San Diego (37-33, rozdíl -10 bodů) získává flexibilitu v sestavě, ale ztrácí minimální ofenzivní produkci.

Bryce Johnson

San Diego Padres

Padres Vyberou Blake Hunta, Určí Ty Adcocka k Přiřazení

Hunt nahrazuje Fermina (0,148 AVG, 0,266 xwOBA v omezeném střídavém provozu) v kádru po otřesu mozku. Hloubka chytačů SD se posouvá, zatímco tým má bilanci 36-33 s rozdílem běhů -13.

Ty Adcock

Blake Hunt

San Diego Padres

Padres Umísťují Andujara na 10denní IL, Vybírají Solaka

Andujar odchází s průměrem .254 a xwOBA .285 přes 50 zápasů, takže San Diego ztrácí minimální ofenzivní produkci. Příchod Solaka poskytuje hloubku, zatímco Padres jsou na 35-33 s rozdílem runů -19 a čelí rotaci Baltimoru dnes večer s Vásquezem (ERA 3.63, WHIP 1.30) na pahorku.

Miguel Andujar

Nick Solak

San Diego Padres

Padres určují Bryce Johnsona k postoupení

Johnson odchází s průměrem .178 a xwOBA .173 v omezeném čase. Bogaerts se vrací z otcovské dovolené s průměrem .231 a 8 home runy v 63 zápasech, stabilizuje pozici shortstopu, zatímco San Diego sedí na 35-32 v těsném závodě NL West.

Bryce Johnson

San Diego Padres

St. Louis Cardinals — Zpravy

Dustin May Hází Dokonalý Shutout do 6. Inningsu Proti Cardinals

May's výkon s 1 zásahem, 1 voláním na bílek a 9 strikeouty na 101 hodů je jeho nejsilnějším výkonem sezóny—jeho ERA 3,75 a K/9 8,27 jej učinily flexibilním starterem, ale tento výkon posiluje jeho pozici volného agenta před termínem.

Dustin May

St. Louis Cardinals

Cardinals Vybrali Makše Rajcica, Dali Možnost Chrisovi Roycroftu

Rajcic vstupuje do rotace, kde Liberatore (4,71 ERA, 1,50 WHIP) a Leahy (4,63 ERA, 1,55 WHIP) ztrácí běhy; STL má +11 v rozdílu běhů navzdory slabosti střední rotace. Pro Rajcica nejsou k dispozici statistiky na rok 2026, což činí tento tah hloubkou s omezeným bezprostředním dopadem.

Chris Roycroft

St. Louis Cardinals

Herrera 2 ze 3 se dvěma homeruny v triumfu Cardinals

Herreriných zbrojní výstava (7 HR, .410 SLG v sezoně) zvedla St. Louis nad Minnesota, ale jeho průměr .265 a 50 SO v 67 zápasech podtrhují nekonzistentnost—sobotní výbuch neoznačuje trvalé ofenzivní zlepšení pro DH.

St. Louis Cardinals

Kardinálové Optují Gormana, Povyšují Jordana

Gormanův průměr .194 a xwOBA .279 v 62 zápasech vynutil tento tah, ale volba smlouvy Jordana signalizuje důvěru v rohového zahráče na protiinfieldu před veteránskou hloubkou. STL (37-29, +11 rozdíl runů) může absorbovat ztrátu vzhledem k jejich druhé pozici a nedávné sérii 7-3.

Nolan Gorman

Blaze Jordan

St. Louis Cardinals

Cardinals Poskytují Opcí Victora Scotta II, Znovu Vyvolávají Nathana Churcha

Scott II dosáhl průměru .194/.273/.258 s xwOBA .273 v 19 zápasech, čímž umožnil Church převzít povinnosti center fielderu v Cardinals se skóre 35-28 a rozdílem běhů -2.

Nathan Church