The June 17, 2025 game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field brings together two clubs with contrasting fortunes as the season nears its halfway mark, with the Cardinals still fighting for relevance in a crowded NL Central and the White Sox looking to salvage a lost season and avoid slipping further into the American League basement. The Cardinals, with a 37–35 record, have struggled to find consistency but remain within striking distance in the division, though a recent cold streak has seen them drop ground in the standings and exposed the need for greater reliability on both sides of the ball. Matthew Liberatore will take the mound for St. Louis carrying a 3–6 record and 4.17 ERA, and after dropping his last three decisions, he’ll be motivated to deliver a rebound performance against a White Sox team that has struggled to generate offense consistently. Liberatore has shown flashes of promise with his left-handed sinker-curve combo, but he’s been prone to high pitch counts and occasional hard contact, which has prevented him from working deep into games. Offensively, the Cardinals are led by Brendan Donovan, who has been one of the steadiest hitters in the National League with a .313 average and great plate discipline, while Willson Contreras provides power and leadership with 9 home runs and 45 RBIs.

They also benefit from the presence of veterans like Nolan Arenado and the athleticism of Lars Nootbaar, who offer clutch-hitting capability and defensive stability. On the other side, the White Sox enter with a dismal 23–49 record and the second-worst ATS mark in baseball at 26–46, reflecting their ongoing struggles to remain competitive in most games. They’ve been inconsistent both on the mound and at the plate, and although young slugger Miguel Vargas leads the club with a .242 average and 10 home runs, the team’s offensive output has been limited by injuries and underwhelming performances from veterans. They will start Shane Smith, one of the few bright spots in their rotation, who owns a 3–3 record and excellent 2.37 ERA—highlighting his ability to keep the game close even without overpowering stuff. Smith’s poise and command could be a stabilizing factor, but he’ll need support from a lineup that has struggled to string hits together and from a defense that often buckles under pressure, particularly when giving up home runs, as shown by their brutal 13–35 record in games where opponents go deep. The Cardinals are favored at -1.5, and with an over/under set at 8.5, oddsmakers expect a moderately scored affair, likely hinging on whether Liberatore can manage the White Sox lineup without falling behind early. For St. Louis, this game offers a valuable chance to reset momentum and start a push back up the standings, while for Chicago, it’s an opportunity to show signs of life, build on Smith’s consistency, and play spoiler against a team with postseason aspirations. Despite their records, both clubs have young pieces trying to prove themselves, making this matchup a key barometer of which team can correct course as summer heats up.