Arizona Diamondbacks vs St. Louis Cardinals Starting Lineup — Thursday, Jul 23, 2026

Arizona Diamondbacks at St. Louis Cardinals (2026-06-25). Zac Gallen vs Michael McGreevy at Busch Stadium.

Zac Gallen enters this contest with a season ERA of 6.1 and a WHIP of 1.63 across 79.2 innings pitched, indicating significant struggles with both run prevention and baserunners. His strikeout rate of 5.87 K/9 is notably low, while his walk rate of 2.82 BB/9 is moderate. Gallen's recent trend shows an "up" ERA, with his last five starts featuring fluctuating performances, including a 9.0 ERA in one start and a 0.0 ERA in another, suggesting inconsistency. Michael McGreevy, on the other hand, boasts a more respectable season ERA of 3.35 and a WHIP of 1.15 over 83.1 innings. His K/9 of 5.72 is similar to Gallen's, but his BB/9 of 2.16 is lower, contributing to his better WHIP. McGreevy's ERA trend is "down," and he has maintained a 50% quality start percentage, demonstrating greater reliability in his outings, including a recent six-inning shutout performance.

The Diamondbacks offense has posted a .696 OPS and scored 346 runs this season, with a .239 batting average. Their pitching staff holds a 4.29 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP, allowing 94 home runs. The Cardinals offense shows slightly better numbers with a .726 OPS and 359 runs scored, alongside a .249 batting average. Their pitching staff has a comparable 4.30 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP, giving up 89 home runs. Both teams exhibit similar offensive and pitching profiles, with the Cardinals holding a slight edge in overall hitting metrics.

Recent head-to-head matchups from 2025 show a split, with the Diamondbacks winning three games in July and the Cardinals winning three games in May, all by close margins. The total line for this game is set at 9.0 runs. Given Gallen's elevated ERA and WHIP, and the relatively similar offensive capabilities of both teams, the 9.0 total might reflect expectations for a moderate-scoring affair, potentially influenced by Gallen's recent volatility.