Cardinals vs Astros Preview: Young Arms in Spotlight

The Cardinals are hot right now, riding a four-game winning streak into Sunday's matchup. Their recent victory over the Astros showed what this team can do when young pitchers step up. Matthew Liberatore takes the mound as the Cardinals' starter, and he's a key player the team is counting on for the future. St. Louis isn't built around one superstar pitcher—instead, they need their developing arms to prove themselves in big moments. With a 12-8 record, the Cardinals are fighting hard to make their way back into playoff contention. Every start matters when you're trying to climb back into the race.

Houston is navigating a challenging season and a completely new pitching rotation. Star ace Framber Valdez left in free agency, so the Astros are turning to Hunter Brown to lead their staff going forward. Adding Tatsuya Imai from Japan gives Houston another option, though he's still adjusting to Major League Baseball. The good news? Josh Hader remains one of the most dominant closers in baseball. If Hader stays healthy, Houston has a powerful weapon for closing out tight games. However, the team's 8-14 record shows they're struggling early in the season.

Even though Houston's record sits at 8-14, the team still boasts incredible talent. Yordan Alvarez is widely considered one of baseball's best hitters when healthy, combining power with a batting average near .300. Jeremy Peña, who won World Series MVP honors in 2021, continues improving each season. José Altuve, the face of the franchise, recently hit 26 home runs despite standing just 5-foot-6. For St. Louis, Alec Burleson provides steady, reliable hitting in the middle of the lineup. When these offensive forces collide on the field, expect an exciting game.