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. Willie Mays made his professional debut in 1948 at Rickwood Field. Sadly, Mays passed away earlier this week, making this game even more poignant.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 lost four of their last six games and hold a 36-39 record. They are just one game out of the third NL wild-card spot. Keaton Winn had a promising start to the season with three solid outings in April, but he has struggled mightily since. He posted a 13.02 ERA across his last five starts, although he did manage a quality start in his last outing against the Angels.The Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals have shown flashes of brilliance. They recently rose above .500 for the first time since early in the season, despite 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. Tied with the Nationals for the second and third wild-card spots, the Cardinals are in a pivotal position. Andre Pallante started the season as a reliever but transitioned to the rotation. He has made only four starts so far, averaging just 4 1/3 innings per start with a 3.63 ERA. His last outing saw him throw just 59 pitches, which could place additional strain on the Cardinals' bullpen.Prediction
Major League Baseball is expected to hold a pre-game ceremony honoring the Negro Leagues and Willie Mays. Such tributes will likely strike an emotional chord and set a reverent tone for the evening. The sweltering weather in Birmingham is expected to make Rickwood Field a hitter-friendly environment, and the ballpark's characteristics remain something of an enigma. These conditions suggest a high-scoring affair.Considering the recent form of both starting pitchers and the taxed bullpens, a slugfest seems likely. Keaton Winn's struggles and Pallante's limited pitch count suggest that both teams will need to rely heavily on their relievers. Given the favorable hitting conditions, expect fireworks as both teams capitalize on the opportunity to put runs on the board.
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."