Cardinals host the Blue Jays on June 9, 2025, after a loss to the Dodgers. Can Andre Pallante outpitch José Berríos and extend the Cards' home dominance?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
A new week brings a new opponent to Busch Stadium. While the sting of Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Dodgers lingers, preventing a sweep, the St. Louis Cardinals (36-29) have no time to dwell on it. The Toronto Blue Jays are in town, and with the Cards still firmly in second place in the NL Central, this series is a prime opportunity to shake off the weekend finale and get back to their winning ways at home.
The Cardinals enter the series with a formidable 22-11 record at Busch Stadium, one of the best home-field advantages in the National League.
Sunday's game didn't go as planned. Michael McGreevy, called up from Memphis for a spot start, battled through six innings but ultimately allowed four runs in his 2025 MLB debut. The offense couldn't solve Clayton Kershaw for most of the afternoon, with Masyn Winn's two-out RBI double being the lone bright spot against the veteran lefty. While losing the finale and missing a sweep is always tough, the Cardinals still took the series from a top contender, a significant positive as they move forward.
Tonight's opener features an intriguing pitching duel. Andre Pallante (4-3, 4.91 ERA) gets the ball for St. Louis, looking to provide a quality start and set a positive tone for the series. He'll face Toronto's José Berríos (2-2, 3.67 ERA). Both teams boast strong pitching staffs with ERAs under 4.00 and are surprisingly identical on the basepaths with 37 stolen bases each. Keep an eye on the Cardinals' offensive leaders to provide the spark: Brendan Donovan continues to be a hitting machine with a .315 average, while Willson Contreras (37 RBI) and Lars Nootbaar (8 HR) provide the power.
While the big-league club focuses on Toronto, the organizational philosophy of stability and development remains clear. No major roster shakeups were announced Monday, indicating confidence in the current squad. That confidence is bolstered by a farm system that continues to impress. 2024 first-round pick JJ Wetherholt is turning heads with his power and contact skills, while pitchers like Quinn Mathews are being touted as potential future anchors of the rotation. It's a quiet reminder that while the focus is on winning now, the future in St. Louis is incredibly bright.
The loss to the Dodgers is in the rearview mirror. The focus now is squarely on the Blue Jays. With a dominant home record and a chance to make a statement against a tough American League opponent, this three-game set at Busch is crucial. A series win here would not only erase the memory of Sunday's defeat but also solidify the Cardinals' standing as a serious contender in the National League.
