🔴 LIVE Brewers vs. Cardinals THE CRUCIBLE BEGINS! - Play by Play & Reaction | Game 90 of 162 [fK48DhDV9WS]
Tonight the St. Louis Cardinals (47-40) face the Milwaukee Brewers (55-33) in the first game of a whopping 5 game series at Busch Stadium this week. After going 4-2 on their most recent road trip that took them through both Atlanta and the Northside of Chicago, this massive series against the Brewers in St. Louis is a considerable acid test for this Redbirds team and their fate for the remainder of 2026. Going for the Redbirds tonight is RHP Dustin May (5-6, 4.80 ERA), who in his last start against the Braves in Atlanta this past Thursday night lasted 0.2 IP, before being removed. In that start, May was in trouble almost immediately, and then he took a line drive on his right ankle off the bat of Dominic Smith. That line drive off May's ankle deflected into no-man's land in shallow right field, becoming a bases clearing double for Smith. May didn't last long past that moment down in Truist Park. May did have an x-ray on that right angle, which came back negative. Prior to that, he was skipped in his scheduled start against Miami to recover from lower back soreness that hampered him in his start against Kansas City on June 21st. What is abundantly clear is that May has experienced difficulties returning to form that brought a no-hitter into the 8th inning in one game, and a complete game one-hitter in another. With all of the trade speculation regarding May, his performance tonight against Milwaukee has long reaching implications. On the hill for the Brewers this evening is LHP Shane Drohan (3-2, 3.12 ERA), who has spent the majority of 2026 for Milwaukee as a late inning option out of the bullpen - where Drohan excelled by posting a 1.82 ERA. Drohan has been placed into the rotation out of a combination of necessity and circumstance. The decision by the Brewers is primarily due to injuries to both RHP Brandon Woodruff and RHP Quinn Priester, leaving Milwaukee with little quality choices in the matter. Drohan has put together a representative track record since he assumed the role at the beginning of June this year. Over 6 starts in that span, Drohan is 1-1, going as deep as 6.1 IP in one start. However Drohan is giving up nearly a hit per inning, with opponents hitting a combined .266 against him. Will the Cardinals continue their hot hitting from their most recent road trip, and improve their offensive production at home in Busch tonight? Can Dustin May turn the page from his recent struggles, and reclaim his highly effective form from before his start in Kansas City? Join Paul D. for the first game of this whopping 5 game set, with first pitch at Busch Stadium scheduled for 6:45 PM CST tonight. Get the whole NL Central rivalry right here tonight, on Bombers Game Mic! #stlcardinals #livestream #playbyplay #mlb #milwaukeebrewers #nlcentral