Cardinals face Brewers amid pitching struggles

The St. Louis Cardinals, struggling with a beleaguered bullpen and recent road losses, are set to begin a three-game home series against the Milwaukee Brewers. After a tough stretch where the bullpen allowed significant runs, the Cardinals have called up reliever Riley O'Brien in hopes of stabilizing late-game pitching. Despite their pitching woes, St. Louis boasts one of the National League's top offenses, highlighted by Brendan Donovan’s .356 batting average and strong slugging numbers. Manager Oliver Marmol emphasized the need for improvement from within, indicating the team will continue relying on current bullpen arms to turn things around. The Brewers, meanwhile, have had more road difficulties but are undefeated in games where they hit multiple home runs, making this series a critical test for both teams’ strengths and weaknesses. Friday's matchup marks the first meeting between the teams this season.