Mon Apr 14 22:50:00 UTC 2025: **Cardinals Face Astros in Crucial Home Series; Gray Seeks Consistency**
ST. LOUIS, MO – The St. Louis Cardinals begin a three-game home series against the Houston Astros on Monday, looking to build on a 2-1 series win against the Phillies. The Cardinals’ pitching staff, particularly Sonny Gray, will be under scrutiny. Gray (2-0, 4.50 ERA), starting Monday’s game, needs to improve his hard-hit rate, which currently sits at 48.7%, significantly higher than his career average. While showing improvement, this weakness could be exploited by the Astros, who themselves boast a high hard-hit rate.
Houston will counter with Framber Valdez (1-1, 2.50 ERA), a dominant pitcher since 2022. The Cardinals, however, have shown strength against left-handed pitching this season, boasting a .787 OPS – a stark contrast to last year’s performance.
Key injuries continue to impact the Cardinals. Shortstop Masyn Winn is on the 10-day injured list with lower back spasms, while catcher Ivan Herrera is expected to be out for at least four weeks with a bone bruise. Left-handed pitcher Zack Thompson is on the 60-day IL due to a lat strain.
Post-Dispatch columnist Lynn Worthy recently joined Jeff Gordon to analyze the Cardinals’ first road trip, offering insights into both successes and shortcomings. The upcoming series against the Astros promises to be a crucial test for the Cardinals, requiring improved pitching performance and offensive consistency against a formidable opponent.
First Piper 