Sunday’s series finale between the Philadelphia Phillies and the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium brings together two clubs with different trajectories through the first few weeks of the 2025 season, and both are looking to either capitalize on or correct course before the next stretch of the schedule. The Phillies come into this matchup at 9–5, riding a wave of early-season confidence built on solid starting pitching, timely hitting, and reliable depth on both sides of the ball. Leading that charge is right-hander Zack Wheeler, who enters the game with a 1–0 record, a 3.44 ERA, and an impressive 25 strikeouts across just 18.1 innings. Wheeler has been in ace form so far this year, displaying sharp command, an effective mix of four-seamers and off-speed pitches, and the stamina to go deep into games—all while keeping opposing hitters off balance. His presence on the mound Sunday gives Philadelphia a notable edge, especially against a St. Louis team that has been searching for consistent offensive output against right-handed pitching. At the plate, the Phillies have been energized by Kyle Schwarber’s power surge—he leads the team with six home runs and 12 RBIs—and the steady production of Nick Castellanos, who is batting .308 and serving as a table-setter in the middle of the order. The Phillies’ offense has shown an ability to strike quickly and in bunches, and with the lineup getting healthier and deeper, they’re increasingly capable of grinding out wins even in lower-scoring affairs. As for the Cardinals, they enter the game with a 6–8 record and have been markedly better at home, posting a 5–3 record at Busch Stadium, but their inconsistencies have been glaring.

Matthew Liberatore will start Sunday’s finale, tasked with rebounding from a shaky 5.84 ERA over 12.1 innings pitched in previous outings. Liberatore has shown flashes of potential, especially with his curveball and changeup, but has yet to prove he can string together consistent starts against playoff-caliber lineups. The Cardinals will need him to find early rhythm and keep the ball in the park, especially given the Phillies’ tendency to capitalize on mistakes up in the zone. Offensively, St. Louis has leaned on Brendan Donovan, who leads the team with a .357 batting average, and Ivan Herrera, who has emerged as a valuable power bat with four home runs and 11 RBIs. However, the rest of the order has lacked consistency, and too often the Cardinals have found themselves squandering runners or failing to deliver in big moments. Defensively, the team has held its own, but they’ll need a near-flawless effort to support their starter and slow the Phillies’ momentum. With the over/under set at 7.5 runs, the game projects as a moderately low-scoring affair, likely hinging on whether Wheeler can dominate again and whether St. Louis can finally solve its early-season offensive woes. A win for the Phillies would not only secure the series but reinforce their standing as an early NL contender. For the Cardinals, it’s a chance to earn a split, boost morale, and protect home turf before heading into the next leg of their schedule.