It’s the St. Louis Cardinals taking on the Texas Rangers deep in the heart of the Lone Star State, at Globe Life Field in Arlington.
The Cardinals enter the matchup at 32-24, sitting second in the National League Central. St. Louis won their final two games in Baltimore and are looking to finish their six-game road trip strong. The Rangers are 27-30, currently third in the American League West. Texas is coming off a 2-0 blanking at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday. Texas has dropped 8 of its last 10.
Pitching Matchup
Matthew Liberatore (STL)
The Cardinals will send 25-year-old left-hander Matthew Liberatore to the mound. Liberatore has made 10 starts this season, posting a 3-3 record with an impressive 2.73 ERA. Over 59.1 innings, he has struck out 51 batters while walking only 8.
His most recent outing was on May 24 against the Diamondbacks, where he pitched seven innings, allowing six hits and one run. Liberatore has allowed two earned runs or fewer in eight straight starts, though one of those was a short, shaky appearance on May 1 at Cincinnati, where he lasted only three innings.
Jack Leiter (TEX)
The Rangers counter with 25-year-old right-hander Jack Leiter, a Vanderbilt product. Leiter made his MLB debut last season and has since made eight starts in 2025. He’s 3-2 with a 4.17 ERA over 41 innings, striking out 30 and walking 21.
Walks have been a major issue, with 16 over his last five starts. In his last outing on May 24 against the struggling White Sox, Leiter lasted five innings, striking out three but walking five. He’s also allowed four home runs this season.
Offensive Attacks
St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis ranks second in MLB in batting average, hitting .262 as a team. They are also fifth in on-base percentage (OBP) at .333. While they’ve only hit 52 home runs in 56 games, the Cardinals don’t rely solely on the long ball. They’re tied with Boston for the second-most doubles in MLB (106).
The lineup has been mostly healthy, with no significant injuries reported currently.
Texas Rangers
The Rangers’ offense has struggled mightily. They are 29th in MLB in batting average, hitting just .219, and their .281 OBP ranks near the bottom of the league. Despite their poor contact numbers, they’ve hit 57 home runs, slightly more than the Cardinals but only middle-of-the-pack overall.
Adolis García has been ice cold, batting .207 with just seven home runs and 27 RBIs. Wyatt Langford leads the team in homers with 10, while Corey Seager tops regulars with a .288 average. Seager returned to the lineup on Wednesday after missing time from May 10–27. Joc Pederson and Evan Carter both remain out with injuries.
Last Meeting
The last time these two teams met was in 2024, when the Cardinals took two out of three in the series. The finale on July 31 ended in a 10-1 St. Louis win at Busch Stadium.
Prior to that, the teams faced off in 2023, 2019, 2016, and 2013, with Texas winning 10 of 12 games in that stretch, including seven straight from June 2013 to May 2019.
And, of course, fans won’t forget the 2011 World Series, when the Cardinals eliminated the Rangers in seven games.
What to Expect
Expect a competitive game, but more of the same from both sides. The Cardinals continue to deliver clutch hitting, and Matthew Liberatore remains stingy with walks. Texas may get some power swings, but they continue to struggle with consistency and free passes.
With a day off, Ryan Helsley is fresh and ready. He’s notched 12 saves so far and is available for his third appearance in four games, likely locking down another victory.
Rodney’s Pick
Final Score: Cardinals 5, Rangers 3
Take the Cardinals on the moneyline over the Rangers at -132.
*** Since then, there has been talk about Leiter not going for Texas. Will keep you updated!
Have a great Friday, and see ya’ll Saturday!
