To defeat the Angels on Tuesday, the Cardinals may have to solve the riddle that is Kyle Hendricks.
Hendricks, with a team other than the Cubs for the first time, starts Tuesday for the Angels, who visit Busch Stadium for a 6:45 p.m. first pitch in the second of three.
The right-hander has vexed the Cardinals, putting up a 2.51 career ERA vs. the Redbirds, his best vs. any opponent against whom he's thrown more than 60 innings.
At Busch Stadium, Hendricks has a career 2.26 ERA in eight starts, even taking a no-hitter into the ninth inning in 2016 before Jeremy Hazelbaker's homer ended that bid.
Even in decline, the Cardinals have not been able to solve Hendricks, who is in his 12th MLB season.
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Three of his last four seasons have been well below average in terms of ERA, but he's put up a 1.59 ERA vs. أغر؟´«أ½ in the eight times he's faced the Redbirds since 2021.
Much of Hendricks' decline can be pinned on the waning effectiveness of his changeup, which was among baseball's worst last season by weighted on-base average.
Last season, Alec Burleson was the Cardinals' best hitter against the changeup, followed by Brendan Donovan. Lars Nootbaar was also significantly above average vs. that pitch. Those three top the Cardinals' lineup on Tuesday.
The Cardinals will send out lefty Matthew Liberatore, who was 3-4 with a 4.40 ERA last year overall, mostly out of the bullpen. In six starts in 2024, he put up a 6.35 ERA.
He earned the fifth spot in the Cardinals' rotation with a strong spring that resulted in Steven Matz being sent to the bullpen.
Both teams are 3-1 after the Angels' series-opening win Monday night.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Lars Nootbaar, LF
2. Alec Burleson, 1B
3. Brendan Donovan, 2B
4. Nolan Arenado, 3B
5. Nolan Gorman, DH
6. Jordan Walker, RF
7. Pedro Pagأ©s, C
8. Victor Scott II, CF
9. Masyn Winn, SS
P: Matthew Liberatore, LHP
ANGELS
1. Taylor Ward, LF
2. Luis Rengifo, 2B
3. Mike Trout, RF
4. Jorge Soler, DH
5. Yoأ،n Moncada, 3B
6. Travis d'Arnaud, C
7. Nolan Schanuel, 1B
8. Jo Adell, CF
9. Tim Anderson, SS
P: Kyle Hendricks, RHP
Injury report
Zack Thompson, LHP (lat strain): Remained in Jupiter, Florida, to begin a throwing program after a month of limited activity and no throwing. Thompson went through multiple checkups and scans to monitor the healing of a tear in his lat on the left side, and they did not show any setback to delayed Thompson's scheduled move to the injured list. Updated March 29
