Game Details
Major League Baseball is staging a momentous game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, on Thursday night. The San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals will face off in a regular-season game at the historic ballpark. Rickwood Field holds a special place in baseball history, as it was the site of Willie Mays’s professional debut in 1948. The timing of this game is poignant given that Willie Mays passed away earlier this week.Game Summary
Who: Giants vs. CardinalsDate: Thursday, June 20
Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
Location: Rickwood Field (Birmingham, Alabama)
Probable Pitchers: RHP Keaton Winn (3-7, 6.66 ERA) vs. RHP Andre Pallante (2-3, 4.61 ERA)
Odds: SF -115 | STL -105
Over/Under: 90
Storylines
The Giants
The San Francisco Giants enter this game with a mixed record. They have lost four of their last six games and hold a 36-39 record. They are currently just one game out of the third NL wild-card spot. Keaton Winn, who had a promising start to the season, finishing April with three solid outings, has struggled mightily since. He has posted a 13.02 ERA across his last five starts, though he managed a quality start in his last outing against the Angels.The Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals have shown flashes of brilliance this season. They recently rose above .500 for the first time since early in the season, despite suffering two consecutive walk-off losses to the Miami Marlins. They hold a 36-37 record and are 7.5 games behind the Brewers in the NL Central. The Cardinals are tied with the Nationals for the second and third wild-card spots. Andre Pallante, who started the season as a reliever, transitioned to the rotation and has made only four starts so far. He averages just 4 1/3 innings per start with a 3.63 ERA, but his last outing saw him throw just 59 pitches, which could further strain the Cardinals' bullpen.Prediction
Major League Baseball is expected to have a pre-game ceremony honoring the Negro Leagues and Willie Mays, which will likely strike an emotional chord and set a reverent tone for the evening. The sweltering weather in Birmingham should make Rickwood Field a hitter-friendly environment. The ballpark's characteristics remain somewhat of an enigma, but the conditions suggest a high-scoring affair. Given the subpar form of both starting pitchers and the taxed bullpens, a slugfest is anticipated. Expect fireworks as both teams capitalize on the favorable hitting conditions.Prediction: Giants 8, Cardinals 7
"Major League Baseball is sure to put together a poignant pre-game ceremony honoring the Negro Leagues and Willie Mays."