The St. Louis Cardinals enter Sunday’s series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks riding a surge of confidence and consistency that has propelled them to a 28–23 record and within striking distance of first place in the NL Central. Winners of the first two games in this series, the Cardinals are aiming for a sweep to further cement their status as one of the league’s most quietly effective clubs over the past few weeks. A combination of timely hitting, dependable pitching, and fundamentally sound defense has defined St. Louis’ recent stretch, and Sunday presents another opportunity to showcase that formula in front of a home crowd at Busch Stadium. The offense continues to be anchored by Brendan Donovan, who leads the team with 51 hits and consistently sets the tone at the top of the order with his ability to get on base and spark rallies. Lars Nootbaar has provided power and energy, launching seven home runs while continuing to play excellent defense in the outfield, and Paul Goldschmidt has started to heat up after a slower start to the year, giving the Cardinals the heart-of-the-lineup presence they’ve relied on in recent seasons. This lineup may not be the most explosive in the National League, but it’s one of the most disciplined, rarely giving away at-bats and finding ways to manufacture runs even without the long ball.

On the mound, St. Louis will turn to veteran right-hander Sonny Gray, who brings a 5–1 record and 4.02 ERA into the start and has proven once again to be a reliable presence in the rotation. Gray mixes speeds effectively and has a strong track record against teams like Arizona, making him an ideal choice to finish off the series sweep. The Cardinals’ bullpen has also been sharp, with closer Ryan Helsley and setup men Giovanny Gallegos and JoJo Romero combining to lock down late leads with consistency. Defensively, St. Louis has been among the league’s best, limiting mistakes and providing excellent support for the pitching staff through strong infield play and outfield positioning. From a betting angle, the Cardinals have gone 20–18 against the spread this season and are favored on the moneyline at -120, a nod to both their current form and home-field advantage. A win Sunday would give the Redbirds a clean sweep and further boost their standing in a division that remains tightly contested. Manager Oliver Marmol has his club playing with urgency and discipline, and if they can continue to execute in all three phases—hitting, pitching, and defense—they’ll be in strong position to maintain momentum into a crucial June schedule. For a team that started the season with questions about its consistency, the Cardinals have begun to find their rhythm, and Sunday’s game offers a chance to show just how far they’ve come with another composed and complete team effort.