Struggling Rangers look to right ship against streaking Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers open a three-game interleague series on Friday in Arlington, Texas, in a matchup of teams heading in opposite directions.

St. Louis will send left-hander Matthew Liberatore (3-3, 2.73 ERA) to the mound to begin the game while the Rangers will turn to rookie righty Jack Leiter (3-2, 4.17 ERA).

The Cardinals have been one of baseball's hottest teams in May, compiling an 18-7 record over the month's first 25 games while winning seven of their past eight series. St. Louis heads to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex on the heels of a 6-4 victory in Baltimore on Wednesday that produced its fifth win in its past six games.

Texas, meanwhile, has struggled mightily -- especially of late. The Rangers have lost 15 of their 26 games in May and have dropped eight of their past 10 contests, including a 2-0 setback at home to Toronto on Wednesday in which they managed just one hit -- a single by Josh Smith the lead off the first inning.

The Rangers scored just three runs in their recent three-game series with the Blue Jays and has now plated one run or fewer in 15 of their 30 losses this season.

"Offensively, you just want things to click," Texas third baseman Josh Jung said. "I think it's coming. I mean, we're all hoping it's coming. We're putting in work. It's not a lack of effort. I truly believe hitting is contagious, and once it gets rolling, it's going to roll quickly."

Liberatore has been solid for the Cardinals even though he's had no decisions in his past three outings against Philadelphia and Kansas City on the road and, most recently, at home versus Arizona on Saturday. Liberatore allowed one run on six hits with four strikeouts and no walks over seven innings in that game, which St. Louis won 6-5.

"There's just conviction," St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said about Liberatore. "He doesn't give a damn who's in the box, he's going to go right after you."

Liberatore has given up two runs or less in eight straight starts. The former first-round pick has solidified his spot in the Cardinals' rotation by taking some of the stress off of himself.

"I'm not fighting myself out there like I was in previous years," Liberatore said. "I'm not living and dying with every pitch and what that means to the fate of my career."

Liberatore has faced the Rangers just once in his career, allowing five runs (four earned) in seven innings in a loss in 2022. He struck out two and walked a pair in that game and emerged with a 9.00 ERA.

As for Leiter, he brings plenty to the mound after a win and a pair of no decisions over his past three starts.

In his most recent game, Leiter went five innings and gave up two runs on six hits and a season-high five walks in a game Texas dropped 10-5 at the Chicago White Sox. He struck out three and allowed a home run.

Leiter has not faced the Cardinals in his 17-game MLB career.

--Field Level Media