Game Details
Major League Baseball is set to stage 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 this historic ballpark. Rickwood Field holds a unique place in baseball history as Willie Mays made his professional debut there in 1948. In a poignant turn of events, it was announced that Willie Mays passed away earlier this week.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 of 36-39, having lost four of their last six games. They are currently one game out of the third NL wild-card spot. Keaton Winn had a promising start to the season, finishing April with three solid outings. However, he has struggled mightily since, posting a 13.02 ERA across his last five starts. Despite this, Winn managed a quality start in his last outing against the Angels, hinting at a possible turnaround.The Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals have shown flashes of brilliance this season. They recently rose above .500 for the first time since early in the season but are currently grappling with two consecutive walk-off losses to the Miami Marlins. With a 36-37 record, they are 7.5 games behind the Brewers in the NL Central, and they are tied with the Nationals for the second and third wild-card spots. Andre Pallante started the season as a reliever before transitioning 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 strain the Cardinals' bullpen.Prediction
Major League Baseball will likely have a pre-game ceremony honoring the Negro Leagues and Willie Mays. Such tributes are expected to strike an emotional chord and set a reverent tone for the evening. The sweltering weather in Birmingham should make Rickwood Field a hitter-friendly environment. Given the subpar form of both starting pitchers and the taxed bullpens, a slugfest is anticipated. Expect fireworks as both teams capitalize on favorable hitting conditions. The prediction is Giants 8, Cardinals 7."Major League Baseball is sure to put together a poignant pre-game ceremony honoring the Negro Leagues and Willie Mays."