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Cardinals Seek Sweep of Red Sox Behind Matthew Liberatore’s Return to Rotation
The St. Louis Cardinals are on the verge of sweeping the Boston Red Sox, thanks to their recent offensive explosion and some smart pitching moves. With lefty Matthew Liberatore back in the starting rotation, the Cardinals are ready to keep their winning streak alive against a Red Sox team struggling to find their footing.
Matthew Liberatore’s Big Return
Matthew Liberatore is stepping back into the starting rotation after some solid work out of the bullpen. Filling in for the injured Steven Matz, Liberatore (1-1, 4.56 ERA) is gearing up for his third start of the season. He’s been working on a new cutter pitch since spring training, which has been a game-changer for him as a starter.
Manager’s Take:
“Matthew competed,” said Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol. “He didn’t get to throw a bullpen like a regular starter between starts, but that cutter is a key pitch for him. It’s something that can help him get through the lineup a couple of times.”
Nick Pivetta’s Command
The Red Sox are sending right-hander Nick Pivetta (1-2, 3.48 ERA) to the mound. Pivetta has been strong since coming back from an elbow strain. In his last outing against the Tampa Bay Rays, he gave up just two runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings, striking out eight.
Pivetta’s Insights:
“We had good command of all three pitches—fastball, curveball, and sweeper,” Pivetta said. “I felt comfortable and was able to work myself into good counts.”
Cardinals’ Offensive Surge
The Cardinals have been crushing it offensively, winning five of their last six games and scoring 40 runs in that span. Standout players include Ivan Herrera, who’s hitting .424 during a nine-game hitting streak, and Paul Goldschmidt, who’s batting .313 over his last seven games.
Manager’s Praise:
“It was tough at-bats, guys not trying to do too much,” Marmol said. “All the way around, guys aren’t trying to do too much. Because of that, we’re seeing a lot of success.”
Red Sox’s Struggles
The Red Sox are in a rough patch, losing four straight games and having a hard time generating consistent offense. They’ve scored three runs or fewer in 10 of their last 15 games, putting a lot of pressure on their pitching staff to hold the line.
Manager’s Concerns:
“I think at the end of the day, we’ve got to score runs,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “Close games put pressure on the bullpen. At some point, we have to start producing runs.”
Series Implications
A sweep would boost the Cardinals’ momentum and solidify their winning streak. For the Red Sox, snapping their losing streak is crucial to regaining confidence and improving their season outlook. The game’s outcome will depend heavily on the starting pitchers’ performances and each team’s ability to seize scoring opportunities.
Conclusion
As the Cardinals and Red Sox gear up for the series finale, the showdown between Matthew Liberatore and Nick Pivetta will be pivotal. With the Cardinals’ offense firing on all cylinders and the Red Sox desperate to break their scoring slump, this game promises to be a critical moment for both teams.
