St. Louis Cardinals take on Los Angeles Angels as Cardinals chase wild‑card spot

The St. Louis Cardinals sit at 51‑47, positioning themselves in the National League wild‑card race, while the Los Angeles Angels languish near the bottom of the standings and are projected to finish as the league's worst team. Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker recently won the MLB All‑Star Home Run Derby, adding excitement to a lineup that still needs improvement in the starting rotation. Rookie starter Kyle Leahy has posted a 7‑4 record with a 3.73 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP, though his performance drops on the road (4.69 ERA compared with 2.94 at home). The Angels, meanwhile, continue to rebuild, with trade speculation surrounding star Mike Trout but little movement expected. Their farm system is considered thin, and they remain well out of contention, trailing the leaders by over 11 games.