The St. Louis Cardinals face a challenging matchup against the Cincinnati Reds with their starting catcher, Iván Herrera, out for 2-6 weeks due to a Grade II hamstring strain. Manager Oli Marmol has opted to give key players Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras a night off after a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox. In their absence, Nolan Gorman will step into the cleanup spot, while Alec Burleson takes over at first base. Gorman has been performing exceptionally well, batting .286 with three homers this month, while Burleson boasts a staggering .404 batting average over his last 15 games.

The Cardinals are in urgent need of a win as they look to remain competitive in both the NL Central and the wild card race. With Herrera sidelined, the pressure on Gorman and Burleson to deliver in their expanded roles is palpable. The team hopes to build on their momentum and capitalize on the Reds' weaknesses as they vie for a spot in the postseason.