The Memorial Day showdown between the St. Louis Cardinals and Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 26, 2025, offers a clear disparity between a playoff-hungry team in the Cardinals and a struggling, injury-ravaged Orioles club trying to regain relevance. The Cardinals enter the matchup with a solid 30–23 record, trailing closely behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central and playing with the consistency that playoff contenders are expected to deliver. Offensively, St. Louis has seen strong contributions from Lars Nootbaar, who leads the team with 10 home runs, and Willson Contreras, who has driven in 40 RBIs and continues to be a catalyst in the middle of the lineup. Their team batting average of .262 underscores a steady and productive offensive approach that thrives on timely hitting and balanced production throughout the lineup. On the mound, they’ll turn to Erick Fedde, who has quietly been a dependable presence with a 3.77 ERA and solid command over 57.1 innings pitched, giving the team a consistent chance to win every fifth day. Fedde’s mix of off-speed stuff and fastball location has helped him keep hitters off balance and eat innings, something that will be particularly valuable against a Baltimore lineup that’s been inconsistent all season. The Orioles, by contrast, have slumped to an 18–34 record and are currently buried at the bottom of the AL East, struggling to stay competitive due to a combination of underwhelming performances, poor pitching, and multiple injuries to key players.

Their expected starter Charlie Morton has posted a bloated 7.68 ERA and a winless 0–7 record, signaling a tough season for the veteran who hasn’t been able to generate the swing-and-miss stuff or control that defined his earlier years. Baltimore’s offensive output has been pedestrian at best, often failing to reach their team total, and has relied heavily on the occasional hot streak from hitters like Gunnar Henderson or Jordan Westburg—though neither has been enough to carry the team. Injuries to stars like Adley Rutschman and Grayson Rodriguez have further hampered their ability to stay afloat. Despite a few recent bullpen highlights, including the stabilizing return of closer Félix Bautista, the Orioles have frequently found themselves trailing early and struggling to mount comebacks. Defensively, miscues and lapses in concentration have cost them dearly in several games, and their depth has been tested to the point of breaking. For the Cardinals, this matchup presents an excellent opportunity to assert dominance early, pile on runs against a vulnerable Morton, and let Fedde and the bullpen secure a clean, businesslike win. Their recent form against the spread—covering the run line in 18 of their last 26—also indicates this team doesn’t just win, it often does so comfortably, which may again be the case here. With the playoff race tightening and every game mattering in the crowded NL, expect St. Louis to come in focused, motivated, and ready to take care of business against a Baltimore squad still searching for answers and consistency in a season that has quickly veered off course.