Kyle Gibson takes hill as Cardinals face floundering Rockies: First Pitch (2024)

The Cardinals, who rallied for a win Friday, continue a four-game home series Saturday against the Rockies. First pitch is set for 3:15 p.m.

Right-hander Kyle Gibson (4-2, 3.69) will take the mound for the Cardinals. Gibson did not factor into the decision his last time out, when he allowed three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings at Houston.

Gibson has an expected ERA of 4.96, which is closer to his actual ERA in recent years. He's getting significantly better results than expected, based on quality of contact with his sinker and his four-seamer.

Against the Rockies, Gibson has pitched 5 2/3 innings or more and allowed three or fewer runs in all three career starts.

The Rockies will send out right-hander Ryan Feltner (1-5, 6.22), who has allowed five or more earned runs in five starts this season, an MLB-worst.

The other two starters to match that were both demoted from their teams' starting rotations: the Angels' Reid Detmers and the Cubs' Kyle Hendricks.

Batters are hitting .281 or better vs. each of Feltner's three most-used pitches.

Feltner has the worst ERA of any qualified starter in baseball this season and the second-worst batting average against (.305).

The Cardinals are 30-32 and are part of a logjam behind division-leading Milwaukee for second. The other four teams are separated by half a game.

The Rockies are 22-41, last in the NL West. They've lost six of seven.

The mid-afternoon start for the game is influenced by the nationally televised game bookending the day. First with Fox Sports and Adam Wainwright carrying the Mets-Phillies game from London, and then finally with the Yankees and Dodgers on the national telecast Saturday night. Major League Baseball fits other games around those tent-pole games and tries to avoid overlap.

Lineups

CARDINALS

1. Masyn Winn, SS

2. Alec Burleson, RF

3. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B

4. Nolan Gorman, 2B

5. Nolan Arenado, 3B

6. Brendan Donovan, LF

7. Iván Herrera, C

8. Matt Carpenter, DH

9. Dylan Carlson, CF

P: Kyle Gibson, RHP

ROCKIES

1. Charlie Blackmon, DH

2. Brenton Doyle, CF

3. Ezequiel Tovar, SS

4. Ryan McMahon, 3B

5. Elehuris Montero, 1B

6. Jacob Stallings, C

7. Jake Cave, LF

8. Michael Toglia, RF

9. Alan Trejo, 2B

P: Ryan Feltner, RHP

Injury report

Willson Contreras (fractured arm):Contreras caught a bullpen session Friday and felt strong coming out of it on Saturday. He started taking swings Saturday after a CT scan of his arm was reviewed by doctors and he was cleared for more intensive baseball activities. Asked about his return, the catcher expects it to be before the calendar turns to July. "I love how eager he is to get back," said manager Oliver Marmol. Updated June 8

Steven Matz (lower back stiffness):The lefty pitched two innings for Class AAA Memphis in Omaha, Nebraska, on Thursday as the first step in a rehab assignment. He'll start Tuesday for Class AA Springfield, and the goal will be between 40 and 45 pitches. Matz was targeted for 40 to 45 pitches but needed only 24 pitches to get six outs and through two innings. Updated June 8

Giovanny Gallegos (right shoulder impingement):Right-hander will throw Sunday for Class AAA Memphis in Omaha. If he comes out of that appearance feeling strong, regardless of the results, Gallegos will advance this week to back-to-back appearances, possibly as early as Wednesday and Thursday. That is the final step before he's considered for a return to the majors. Updated June 8

Riley O'Brien (flexor tendon):Reliever threw his third bullpen session Saturday at Busch Stadium. After that, if he recovers well, Riley could be scheduled for the beginning of a rehab assignment with a minor-league affiliate, and that could start by Tuesday. Another option would be to schedule him to face hitters that day in a live batting practice session. Originally on the 15-day injured list retroactive to March 29, O'Brien was moved to the 60-day list on May 10, about two weeks after beginning a throwing progression.Updated June 8

Nick Robertson (elbow inflammation):Robertson completed a low-intensity bullpen session and did not experience any difficult or soreness following the workout. He completed a normal bullpen Saturday at Busch Stadium, and how quickly he advances from there will depend on how he feels Sunday. He experienced a “little tightness” in his elbow during a throwing session in late May.Updated June 8

Tommy Edman (wrist surgery):Switch-hitter is taking batting practice from both sides of the plate. The workout is similar to how his teammates prepare for games with coach-pitch batting practice. He has been able to increase the intensity of his fielding work, and the team is steadily mapping out a timetable for his return to game-speed action such as live batting practice. Internally, the Cardinals are expecting the return of their center fielder around the All-Star break. His rehab is mirroring a spring training schedule, and he'll have several weeks of games and live batting practices before a return.Updated June 6

Lars Nootbaar (oblique strain):Outfielder went on the 10-day injured list Friday with a strained oblique. Marmol called the strain "moderate," but the Cardinals are braced for Nootbaar to miss several weeks. It is the second time this season that he is on the injured list and the latest injury comes a few days after the Cardinals proactively gave Nootbaar time off to avoid a hamstring injury.Updated June 5

Packy Naughton (flexor tendon surgery):Has joined Class A Palm Beach for the next stage of his rehab assignment. He's working his way toward Class AAA.Updated May 31