[Jul 22, 2026 (Wed)] MLB Analysis Cardinals vs Angels Preview - BeaverStats

This is an MLB analysis post written by AI.

Quick preview of Cardinals vs Angels (Jul 22, 2026 (Wed)).

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This post was analyzed/written by AI based on data from beaverstats.com. Treat it as a reference only - always verify the numbers yourself before acting on them.

Cardinals vs Angels (07.22 10:38, Angel Stadium)

Starters: Cardinals Matthew Liberatore / Angels Walbert Ureña

The standings and the recent form are pulling in opposite directions here. St. Louis sits sixth at a .520 clip, well ahead of the Angels at 15th and .400, but Los Angeles has won two straight while the Cardinals have dropped three in a row. The Angels also lead the season series 1-0, so recent momentum and head-to-head history both cut against what the standings alone would suggest.

Both starters have seen their velocity trend downward lately. Ureña has slipped gradually from 98.7 to 97.1 mph over his last five outings, and Liberatore has followed a similar path, dropping from 94.5 to 93.9.

Season ERA clearly favors Ureña, a legitimate ace number at 2.88 compared to Liberatore's 5.00. Recent FIP tells a more nuanced story — Ureña's has ticked up to 3.80, still solid but a step back from his season mark, while Liberatore's has actually improved to 4.48, a sign his form may be trending in the right direction.

Neither lineup is confirmed yet, so both projections lean on the last available lineup, and both offenses have gone cold recently. The Angels have fallen off hardest, from .234 on the season to just .182 over their last five games, while the Cardinals have dipped more modestly from .258 to .228.

The bullpens are close, with a slight edge to St. Louis — both sides have logged similar recent innings, but the Cardinals carry a 3.76 ERA compared to 4.11 for the Angels.

Taken together, St. Louis still looks like the stronger team on paper, but the recent form, head-to-head history, and starting pitching trajectory all lean toward the Angels, making this a tougher call than the standings alone would indicate.