St. Louis Cardinals vs Detroit Tigers Picks and Predictions May 21st 2025

Tigers turn to bullpen in bid for series win vs. Cardinals

The Detroit Tigers are adapting on the fly. With right-hander Reese Olson landing on the 15-day injured list due to a finger injury, manager A.J. Hinch has made strategic changes to his pitching rotation. Originally scheduled to pitch against his former team, Jack Flaherty will now start Thursday’s series opener against the Cleveland Guardians.

Instead, the Tigers will employ a bullpen game on Wednesday to wrap up their three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Timing the Bullpen Game

Manager A.J. Hinch acknowledged the challenges of using a bullpen-heavy approach just before a four-game set.

“Probably the worst time to run a bullpen game is the first game of a four-game series,” Hinch admitted. “So we’ll run the bullpen game the last day here in St. Louis.”

Brant Hurter (1-0, 2.35 ERA), a promising left-hander, will open the game for Detroit. This marks his first career appearance against the Cardinals. Despite a limited sample size, Hurter has shown strong command and poise on the mound.

Industry’s Best

MLB Handicapping Membership

Get Free Trial

Roster Moves and Player Updates

Tuesday brought some positive news for the Tigers as catcher Jake Rogers made his return after missing more than a month with an oblique strain. Although he went 0-for-3 at the plate, Rogers expressed confidence in his recovery timeline:

“They told me four to six weeks… I feel good and ready to play,” he said.

To make room for Rogers, the Tigers designated Tomas Nido for assignment. Interestingly, Nido made a rare pitching appearance in Monday’s lopsided loss to help preserve Detroit’s bullpen.

Cardinals Counter with Andre Pallante

St. Louis will turn to Andre Pallante (4-2, 4.11 ERA), who has impressed recently with back-to-back wins. In his last start, Pallante allowed just two runs on seven hits over seven innings in a 10-3 win against the Kansas City Royals.

“One of his better games,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “No walks and kept them soft on the ground.”

This will be Pallante’s first career outing against Detroit, but his ability to induce weak contact could give him an edge. Check The latest Baseball Picks from MLB Expert Handicappers

Series Recap So Far

• Game 1: Cardinals dominated with an 11-4 win.
• Game 2: Tigers bounced back in a close 5-4 contest.

The series has been evenly matched, with both teams showing flashes of offensive power and strategic depth.

Noteworthy Performances

• Nolan Arenado broke out of a slump, going 2-for-4 with a crucial two-run homer.
• Ivan Herrera continued his hot streak, raising his batting average to .429 after a 2-for-3 showing with a walk, a run, and an RBI.

What to Expect in the Series Finale

With both teams deploying unique strategies and coming off a game apiece, the final matchup promises to be a tightly contested affair. The Tigers hope their bullpen can hold strong, while the Cardinals will look to Andre Pallante to continue his efficient form on the mound.