Cardinals' Andre Pallante starts home finale, rubber game vs. Guardians: First Pitch
The Cardinals wrap up a home series Sunday against the Guardians. First pitch is set for 1:15 p.m.
St. Louis held on 6-5 Saturday night after falling in Friday's opener.
The Guardians, however, clinched the American League Central division title despite the defeat by virtue of Kansas City's loss Saturday. Cleveland is still playing for playoff seeding.
Right-hander Andre Pallante (7-8, 3.87) will take the mound Sunday for the Cardinals.
In his last start, Pallante went seven innings vs. Pittsburgh without allowing a run in his best start of the season.
Pallante has a 2.98 ERA in his last seven starts.
The Guardians will counter with right-hander Gavin Williams (3-10, 5.12), a former first-round draft pick in his second big-league season.
Williams was a college teammate of Cardinals outfielder Alec Burleson at East Carolina.
Williams reportedly has great stuff but has been wildly inconsistent this season .
The Cardinals are 78-77, third in the NL Central and 10-9 in the month of September.
The Guardians are 90-66, AL Central champions and 1 1/2 games behind New York for the league's best record.
9. Pedro Pagés, C
P: Andre Pallante, RHP
To be updated.
P: Gavin Williams, RHP
Injury report
Willson Contreras (fractured finger): The catcher fractured the middle finger on his right hand when struck by a pitch Aug. 24 , and his season is effectively over following an exam Monday with team medical officials. He was prescribed another two weeks of inactivity to continue the healing process, and that assures he will not be able to play during the regular season, which ends when September does. Updated Sept. 17
Lance Lynn (right knee inflammation): The veteran's season came to an end Wednesday , a day after he pitched six strong innings to pick up a win over Pittsburgh and remain unbeaten at Busch since July 2017. His contract has a $12-million option for 2025, though factors are stacking up that would lead the Cardinals to decline it. Updated Sept. 18
Sonny Gray (right forearm flexor tendinitis): Gray was placed on the IL Saturday, the morning after the Cardinals were officially eliminated from the playoffs, ending his first season with the team with eight games remaining. The move is retroactive to Thursday. Updated Sept. 21
