Cardinals vs Braves Preview: Young Arms Face Strong Lineups

The St. Louis Cardinals roll into Atlanta with a 43-38 record, chasing wins they desperately need. Matthew Liberatore takes the mound for St. Louis, a young starter the team is banking on to step up in big moments. Right now, the Cardinals' pitching staff is still building. Guys like Liberatore need to prove they can be trusted when games matter most. The staff won't blow anyone away with dominance, but solid starts from multiple arms could keep St. Louis in this fight.

Atlanta sits at 49-33, the best record in this matchup. The Braves have lost two straight, though, so they need this win badly. Martin Perez takes the ball for the home team. Atlanta's pitching is built different than St. Louis. The Braves have elite top talent with Spencer Strider and Chris Sale. These are ace-level pitchers who can shut down entire lineups. Raisel Iglesias locks down the back end. The Braves have the weapons to dominate games when their staff is healthy.

Here's the tough part for both squads. The Cardinals have Ramon Urias dealing with an elbow issue on the 60-day list, plus Ryan Fernandez working back from a back injury. Atlanta's situation is rougher. Ronald Acuna Jr., one of the game's best hitters, is out with a hamstring problem that keeps acting up. Spencer Strider, their ace, is also sidelined with elbow trouble. Both teams are missing important pieces. Who stays healthy enough to win this battle? That could decide everything.