Cardinals vs Twins Preview: Pitching Duel Stirs Week 64

Kyle Leahy gets the ball for the Cardinals on Saturday night at Target Field. The young right-hander is a crucial piece of St. Louis's pitching puzzle this season. The Cardinals sit at 37-29 and need strong starts from their developing arms to stay in the playoff race. Leahy will face off against Joe Ryan, who's been lights-out so far. A solid outing from Leahy could set the tone for the whole game. The Cardinals just dropped their last game but won seven of their last ten. That means they're hungry to get back on track.

Joe Ryan is Minnesota's ace, and he's been absolutely dominant. His ERA sits at just 0.81—that's elite-level stuff. He's struck out 12 batters and his WHIP is an impressive 0.99. The Twins are 31-39 and need wins badly. Ryan gives them their best chance to compete. He's the kind of pitcher who can shut down an opposing lineup. When Joe Ryan takes the mound, the Twins believe they can win. That's what a reliable starter means to a rebuilding team like Minnesota. Ryan's consistency is exactly what keeps the Twins in games.

Both squads have hit rough patches lately. St. Louis lost their last game but have momentum—seven wins in their last ten games. Minnesota dropped their last game too and are just 4-6 in their last ten. The Cardinals are the stronger team on paper at 37-29. The Twins sit at 31-39 and are clearly rebuilding. But baseball is weird. Any team can win on any night. Saturday's matchup will come down to pitching and clutch hitting. Let's see who shows up ready to compete at Target Field.