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Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt Faces Cubs in Anticipated Showdown at Busch Stadium

The St. Louis Cardinals are gearing up to host the Chicago Cubs in what promises to be an exciting matchup at Busch Stadium on May 25, 2024. As both teams prepare for this clash, all eyes will be on the top performers from each side, with Cardinals' first baseman Paul Goldschmidt standing out as a key player to watch.


Jul 28, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;  Chicago Cubs center fielder Mike Tauchman (40) celebrates with a teammate after making a game winning catch robbing a home run from St. Louis Cardinals pinch hitter Alec Burleson (not pictured) to end the game in the ninth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Paul Goldschmidt has been a consistent force for the Cardinals over the past three games. His batting average of .250 and on-base percentage (OBP) of .25 highlight his reliability at the plate. Although he hasn't hit any home runs recently, his slugging percentage (SLG) of .5 and OPS of .75 indicate his potential to make significant contributions. Notably, Goldschmidt's fielding has been impeccable with a perfect fielding percentage (FPCT) of 1.0.


Another standout for the Cardinals is second baseman Nolan Gorman, who delivered an exceptional performance against the Orioles on May 22, hitting a home run and driving in three runs with a perfect batting average and OBP of 1.000. His OPS was an outstanding 4.0, showcasing his ability to change the game's dynamics single-handedly.


Jul 28, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;  St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Tyler O'Neill (27) leaps at the wall and catches a fly ball against the Chicago Cubs during the second inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

On the pitching front, Kyle Gibson has shown solid form with an ERA of 0.0 and WHIP of 1.25 across recent outings. His strikeout rate (K/9) stands at 6.75, making him a reliable option on the mound for St. Louis.


For the Cubs, right fielder Seiya Suzuki has been impressive with a batting average of .500 and an OPS of 1.0 over recent games, demonstrating his capability to get on base consistently and contribute offensively. Additionally, left fielder Ian Happ has shown promise with an OPS of 1.167 and SLG of .667.


Jul 27, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Michael Rucker (59) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals in the ninth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-USA TODAY Sports

Cubs' pitching also boasts some strong performers like Ben Brown and Luke Little, both maintaining ERAs of 0.0 in their recent appearances. Brown's WHIP is particularly notable at just 0.75 with a K/9 rate of 13.5, indicating his dominance on the mound.


As these two teams prepare to face off, fans can expect a thrilling game characterized by strong offensive plays and robust pitching performances from both sides.


The game is scheduled for May 25 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, starting at 6:15 PM local time (23:15 UTC). Fans can catch all the action live on FOX network.

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