The St. Louis Cardinals, fresh off a sweep against the Chicago White Sox, are set to face off against the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium starting Friday. Currently tied for second place in the NL Central at 40-35, the Cardinals are looking to regain momentum after a shaky 7-10 record this month, but still remain close to a wild card spot. The Reds, at 39-36, are just a game behind. Thursday's doubleheader saw the Cardinals experimenting with different leadoff hitters while facing a formidable Reds lineup led by Elly De La Cruz, who boasts a solid batting average and team-leading home runs.

With starters Andre Pallante and Sonny Gray on the mound for the Cardinals, the series holds significant implications as they seek to limit the Reds' offensive output. Pallante, struggling in recent outings, has to contain the long ball while the Cardinals' offense looks for a spark amid personnel adjustments. The upcoming series is crucial for both teams as they chase playoff positions.