The Cardinals lineup has just two hitters with a strikeout rate above 21% against lefties, and with St Louis sitting some of their lefties, I'm fading Jesus Luzardo having eight strikeouts. This Cardinals lineup has just two solid strikeout targets, who are both righties, and Luzardo possesses a 34% K rate vs. lefties, which drops to 27% vs. righties. That's still a solid strikeout rate against right handers, with good underlying metrics, but the platoon matchup and lack of swing and miss is pushing me to the under. St Louis has allowed only one lefty to hit eight strikeouts all season, and Cristopher Sanchez had seven a couple weeks ago, which made him just the second southpaw to hit that total in 2026.
We backed Jesus Luzardo in his last start but IтАЩm fading him today at a higher number and a stingier matchup. His opponent the Cardinals havenтАЩt been striking out a lot and are also in must win mode as they look to capture a wild card birth. I think Luzardo struggles getting to 8 Ks.
Nola was charged with the loss Thursday in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series against Atlanta. He gave up three runs on two hits with one strikeout and two walks across 1.2 innings.
Marsh is absent from the lineup Thursday in Game 3 of the wild-card series versus Atlanta.
Sosa (groin) will start at third base and will bat seventh Thursday in Game 3 of the wild-card series in Atlanta.
Nola will start Thursday in Game 3 of the wild-card series in Atlanta, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Bohm went 2-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run during Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against Atlanta on Wednesday.
Sanchez didn't factor in the decision in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series in Atlanta on Wednesday. He gave up three runs on six hits with six strikeouts and five walks over 6.2 innings.
Sosa was removed from Game 2 of the wild-card series versus Atlanta on Wednesday after aggravating his left groin injury, Cory Nidoh of Philly Sports Network reports.
Nola is likely to start a potential Game 3 of the wild-card series against Atlanta on Thursday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Raley is not on the Phillies' NL Wild Card Series roster against Atlanta, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Monday that Fitts (lat) is on track to be ready at the start of spring training but will have his workload monitored, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
