Cardinals Face Tough Challenge in Doubleheader Against Phillies

Philadelphia, PA — The St. Louis Cardinals are set to face their toughest challenge yet as they open a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. The Cardinals, riding a nine-game winning streak, will begin the first game at 12:05 p.m. local time, with the second game kicking off at 5:15 p.m.

In the early game, the Phillies will start left-hander Jesus Luzardo, who boasts a record of 3-0 and an impressive 2.11 ERA. Luzardo ranks as the second-best starting pitcher in the National League, according to Fangraphs’ wins above replacement metric. The 27-year-old, acquired in a trade with Miami during the offseason, has only allowed two home runs all season, making him a formidable opponent.

On the other side, Cardinals’ right-hander Erick Fedde takes the mound, holding a record of 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA. This game marks Fedde’s return after a shutout performance against the Washington Nationals. In the evening matchup, Sonny Gray will pitch for St. Louis, coming off a seven-inning shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates, while Phillies’ right-hander Aaron Nola, with a 1-6 record and a 4.89 ERA, will hope to turn his season around.

Currently, the Cardinals sit at 23-19, trailing the Chicago Cubs by 1.5 games in the National League Central. Meanwhile, the Phillies, at 24-17, are looking to avoid their first series loss since April 21-23 against the Mets. This doubleheader presents a crucial opportunity for both teams.

As the teams prepare to collide at Citizens Bank Park, fans can tune in on FanDuel Sports Network and KMOX for live coverage.