Game Preview 4/15: Cardinals vs. Astros

Cardinals look to guarantee a series win in tonight’s game

Yesterday could not have gone better for the Cardinals. With Sonny Gray on the mound and facing a formidable Framber Valdez, the Cardinals blew out the Astros by getting a lot of hits. They hope to replicate that tonight facing a pretty good Hunter Brown. Brown has had three strong starts and is coming off a 3.1 fWAR season. So yet again, the Cardinals are facing a good pitcher. Feels like they only face good pitchers lately.

Quick reminder: 78 years ago today, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, debuting with the Brooklyn Dodgers en route to winning the first ever NL Rookie of the Year. It’s impossible to understate how important this was. Also I’m saying something obvious here: Jackie Robinson was really good. He didn’t actually get to debut until he was 28-years-old. And it took him a couple seasons to reach his peak, a peak he probably reaches earlier if he would have been allowed to play earlier.

He has the fourth highest wRC+ of all time among 2B with at least 3,000 PAs, and he’s relatively close to both Nap Lajoie and Eddie Collins. (Rogers Hornsby is in another stratosphere). And at least by the defensive stats we have, he was a better defender than both. And you don’t think Jackie being able to play from roughly 24 (or earlier!) to 27-years-old wouldn’t have boosted his career stats? Aside from dismissing anyone pre-integration (which honestly fair enough), he has a very good case for being the second best 2B of all time. I will say, I think less debatably not to kill the debate before it starts, that he IS the best 2B since baseball was integrated. I feel like Jackie Robinson the player is somehow underrated.

Today’s Matchup – first pitch at 6:45 PM CT

Erick Fedde (4.20 ERA/5.70 FIP/5.99 xFIP)*

vs.

Hunter Brown (3.49 ERA/3.58 FIP/3.47 xFIP)*

*2024 stats

How to watch:

Watch on: FanDuel Sports Midwest

Listen on: KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM, WJIR AM 880 (En Espanol)

Players to Watch

STL – Erick Fedde – I hate to just say the starting pitcher, but it’s Fedde. Fedde has been a bit of a mixed bag this season. He is coming off a literally hitless appearance, although he walked four batters and only struck out 2 batters. He has an 8.8 K% on the year and 14% BB rate. He’s going to need to improve those numbers a lot. Hopefully, tonight is the start of that process.

HOU – Yordan Alvarez – This extremely dangerous hitter has not quite got it going yet, but it’s going to happen. If he could wait at least two games to get going, that would be much appreciated. Alvarez hit a 110 mph lineout and a 96.9 mph groundout, so it kind of seems like it’s only a matter of time before he explodes. Again, please wait a couple games.