Cardinals, Orioles Set to Square Off

Opening Series Game Monday Night

The Baltimore Orioles (29-15) and St. Louis Cardinals (20-26) will open a three-game series Monday night at Busch Stadium. The Orioles are one of the hottest teams in baseball, having won nine of their last 11 games. The Cardinals, on the other hand, have struggled recently, losing six of their last 10.

Pitching Matchup

The pitching matchup for the series opener is set, with the Orioles sending right-hander Jordan Lyles (5-3, 4.11 ERA) to the mound against Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas (2-3, 3.02 ERA). Lyles has been solid for the Orioles this season, while Mikolas has been one of the Cardinals' most consistent starters.

Key Storylines

There are several key storylines to watch in this series. The first is the Orioles' offense, which has been one of the most productive in baseball this season. The Orioles are averaging 5.4 runs per game, and they have a team batting average of .282. The Cardinals' pitching staff will have to be at their best to slow down the Orioles' offense.

Another key storyline is the Cardinals' defense, which has been one of the worst in baseball this season. The Cardinals are averaging over two errors per game, and they have allowed more unearned runs than any other team in the league. The Orioles' offense will be looking to take advantage of the Cardinals' defensive miscues.

Prediction

The Orioles are the clear favorites in this series. They have a better record, a more productive offense, and a better defense. The Cardinals will need to play their best baseball to win this series, but the Orioles are the more likely team to come out on top.