Cardinals vs Rangers: How to Watch and What to Watch for originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The St. Louis Cardinals are now eight games above .500 for the first time since 2022 and continue to push the Chicago Cubs — who sit three games ahead of the Cards — for the top spot in the NL Central.
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Next up, the Cardinals (32-24) travel to Arlington, Texas, to face the Texas Rangers (27-30), who currently sit in third the AL West. St. Louis comes into the contest with two-straight series victories against the Diamondbacks and the Orioles.
The Rangers come into the contest having lost eight of their last 10 and have lost their last three series.
Cardinals starting pitcher Matthew Liberatore (52) celebrates with catcher Yohel Pozo (63) as they walk off the field after the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates© Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Friday, May 30, 7:05 p.m. CT
How to watch/listen: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, Matrix Midwest, KMOV-4, KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM
Probable starters:
Cardinals: Matthew Liberatore (3-3, 2.73 ERA)
Rangers: Jack Leiter (3-2, 4.17 ERA)
Friday, May 31, 6:45 p.m. CT
How to watch/listen: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM
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Probable starters:
Cardinals: Sonny Gray (5-1, 4.06 ERA)
Rangers: TBD
Saturday, June 1, 12:05 p.m. CT
How to watch/listen: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM
Probable starters:
Cardinals: Erick Fedde (3-4, 3.9 ERA)
Rangers: TBD
Storylines to watch for:
1. Hot vs. Cold
The Cardinals enter the series on a high note, having won five of their last six games, including a recent 6–4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Their offense has been productive, scoring 29 runs over this stretch, while the bullpen has posted a commendable 2.79 ERA.
The Rangers on the other hand have been one of the coldest teams in the MLB. Their offense has been an absolute disaster during that stretch, scoring just 22 runs in their past 10 games.
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2. Pitching Showdown: Liberatore vs. Leiter
Cardinals’ left-hander Matthew Liberatore has been impressive, not allowing more than two earned runs in his last eight starts and boasts a 2.73 ERA over 59.1 innings this season. Opposing him is Rangers’ right-hander Jack Leiter, who holds a 4.17 ERA over eight starts.
3. Managerial Connections
The series also features a reunion of sorts, as Rangers’ senior advisor Skip Schumaker, a former Cardinals player and bench coach, faces his old team. Schumaker joined the Rangers’ front office in November 2024 after managing the Miami Marlins.
Related: Matthew Liberatore, Masyn Winn Among Cardinals’ Best of the Month
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.