In the year of the rebuild, the St. Louis Cardinals remain in playoff contention. They are making us start to believe in ending a playoff drought. With the Cardinals just 2.5 games out of a postseason spot, this season may end up with people asking more “what ifs” than expected.
This October dream stays alive with St. Louis winning five straight series and have another opportunity to make things interesting this weekend. Not even two weeks after their last matchup, the Cardinals can continue their run
up the standings with a three-game series against the Phillies. Philadelphia currently holds the second Wild Card spot and are 4.5 games up on the Redbirds. A sixth straight series win paired with losses by the Diamondbacks and Padres would likely put St. Louis back in the final playoff spot. On August 21, 2026.
Cardinals fans can start scoreboard watching after continued hot stretch
The first “what if” looks at how the Cardinals could have actually swept all five games and to some, the fact they ended up with just a series win is a bummer. The bullpen, be it usage or makeup, is another “what if” for the season as the group’s 22 blown saves are second most in the majors (Colorado is first with a whopping 32). Alas, the fact remains that the Cardinals have the potential to make the postseason. On August 21, 2026.
This opportunity comes in Philadelphia with two of the three Phillies starters repeating from last meeting. The Cardinals have used any chance to manipulate the rotation to protect the arms from either injury, innings limits, or exposure to tough opponents. That strategy remains in the three-game weekend set.
*Projected starters based on FanGraphs Roster Resource*
GAME ONE: Hunter Dobbins vs. Jesus Luzardo
GAME TWO: Michael McGreevy vs. Andrew Painter
GAME THREE: Kyle Leahy vs. Cristopher Sanchez
To open up yet another big series, the Cardinals are going to roll with Hunter Dobbins as he continues his tryout for next season’s rotation. He has been exactly what was expected in his stints with the big league team and can be at least penciled into the 2027 staff. Following Dobbins is Michael McGreevy who is looking to extend his streak of allowing three runs or less to five straight starts. In the finale, Kyle Leahy will attempt to keep trimming his ERA while the front office has an eye on his innings pitched this season. After 88 frames last year, Leahy has already surpassed 120 innings and has been limited to five innings in each of his last three starts.
The only different starter the Cardinals will face this series is lefty Jesus Luzardo, who has been phenomenal since the All-Star break. On the season, he is 11-5 but Luzardo is 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and more than a strikeout per inning. Jordan Walker has seen the Phillies starter the most, but none of the five Cardinals with experience hitting against Luzardo have had much success.
The other two Phillies starters are hoping for a repeat performance from the last series. Andrew Painter doubled his season win total and put together one of his best outings against St. Louis on August 10. In his follow up performance, Painter gave up five runs on six hits (two homers) in five innings. Closing the series off is All-Star lefty Cristopher Sanchez, who threw six shutout innings against the Cardinals but was saddled with a no-decision in a pitcher’s duel against Andre Pallante. Sanchez got a win in his most recent start, throwing six innings of one-run ball against the Marlins.
An off day is finally coming on Monday once the Cardinals finish their run of 20 straight games on Sunday. The schedule gets a little easier on Tuesday with the Orioles and Pirates coming to Busch to finish the month.
