The Cardinals rolled into Sutter Health Park and took Game 1 behind a JJ Wetherholt 2-run homer and a Jose Fermin 2-RBI double. Now they get the lefty Liberatore (2-1, 4.07) against J.T. Ginn (1-1, 3.62), and the Athletics are suddenly the team that needs to answer.
Ginn is the more interesting story on the mound. He's coming off a career-high 8 innings on 96 pitches in a 12-1 demolition of the Phillies on May 7, the only blemish a Schwarber solo shot. That outing followed a clunker where he gave up 5 runs in 4.1 innings, so the A's are still figuring out which version they're getting on a given night.
Liberatore's been steady-ish for the Cards — 5+ innings in every start to open the year, a 4.07 ERA, and an organization that clearly wants him to be a rotation anchor. He last took the ball against the Padres at Petco on May 7, which is the kind of road environment that gets a young lefty straightened out fast.
The market is leaning A's at home, but it's not screaming. Pinnacle has the home team -140 with a fair win probability of 57%, which feels honest given Ginn's last start and the Cards' bullpen wear-and-tear from last night. The total sits at 10 — high for a pitcher's park, but Sutter Health Park has played friendlier to hitters than the A's would like to admit.
Both clubs are also navigating real injury problems. Jacob Wilson is a brutal loss for the A's — the shoulder sprain came out of Sunday's 2-1 dud against Baltimore and he's on the 10-day IL, joining Max Muncy and Denzel Clarke on the shelf. St. Louis is still without Ramon Urias and waiting on Lars Nootbaar to ramp up a rehab assignment this weekend.
- Day-To-DaySem Robberse SP — Robberse (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals on Monday, which includes an invitation to spring training, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
- Day-To-DayVictor Santos RP — The Red Sox traded Santos (undisclosed) and Nick Robertson to the Cardinals on Friday in exchange for Tyler O'Neill (foot), Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
- Day-To-DayIxan Henderson SP — Henderson (elbow) is starting the season on the 60-day injured list at Triple-A Memphis.
- Day-To-DayPacky Naughton RP — Imaging revealed damage to the UCL in Naughton's left elbow Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
- Day-To-DayZack Thompson RP — The Cardinals reassigned Thompson (shoulder) to minor-league camp Monday.
- 10-Day-ILRamon Urias 3B — The Cardinals placed Urias on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with right elbow lateral epicondylitis.
- 15-Day-ILMatt Pushard RP — The Cardinals must decide soon whether to return Pushard (knee) to the active roster or expose the Rule 5 pick to waivers, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
- 60-Day-ILLars Nootbaar LF — Nootbaar (heels) will begin a rehab assignment over the weekend, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
- Day-To-DayBrooks Kriske RP — The Athletics selected Kriske's contract from Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.
- 10-Day-ILJacob Wilson SS — Wilson was diagnosed with a left shoulder sprain after exiting Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Orioles, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILDenzel Clarke CF — Clarke (foot) has begun a running and hitting progression, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILMax Muncy 3B — Muncy (hand) has yet to resume baseball activities, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILGunnar Hoglund SP — Hoglund (knee/back) was given a cortisone injection in his left hip May 1, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Cards 24-17, A's 21-20 — this is the kind of mid-May Wednesday that decides whether you're 26-17 and feeling good or 24-19 and getting nervous. Take Liberatore over 5 strong, lean on the Cardinals' bullpen to slam the door, and the series is in the bag before Thursday's getaway game.