The Los Angeles Angels host the St. Louis Cardinals at Angel Stadium on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, with first pitch scheduled for 9:38 PM ET. Right-hander Walbert Ureña gets the ball for the Halos against Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore in what shapes up as an intriguing pitching matchup. With the second half of the season in full swing, every game matters — this one included. Catch the action on ABTV presented by Pechanga Resort Casino or listen locally on KLAA 830.

Starting Pitchers: Walbert Ureña vs. Matthew Liberatore

Walbert Ureña draws the start for the Angels. The young right-hander has had his share of opportunities to build on this season, and a home start at Angel Stadium gives him a chance to settle in front of a friendly crowd. This is a meaningful look at what Ureña can deliver against a Cardinals lineup that carries legitimate offensive threats up and down the order.

Matthew Liberatore takes the hill for St. Louis. The left-hander has been a fixture in the Cardinals rotation and presents a different look than most of what the Angels face on a given week. Left-on-left matchups will be worth watching with the Angels lineup construction tonight, so manager decisions in the middle innings could shape this one in a hurry.

Angels Lineup to Watch

The Angels are rolling out a loaded top of the order. Zach Neto leads off at shortstop, followed by Mike Trout in center field — that combination at the top is as dangerous as any in the American League when both are locked in. Nolan Schanuel slots in third at first base, with Jorge Soler hitting cleanup as the designated hitter. That 3-4 combination of Schanuel and Soler gives the Angels legitimate run-producing potential in the middle of the order.

Vaughn Grissom at third base hits fifth, followed by Jo Adell in right field. Adell has the raw power to punish a mistake from any pitcher, and Liberatore will need to stay sharp when he comes to the plate. Oswald Peraza, Jose Siri, and Logan O'Hoppe round out the bottom of the order at second base, left field, and catcher respectively.

Cardinals Lineup Presents Real Challenges

• JJ Wetherholt leads off at second base for St. Louis — a name to keep an eye on as he continues to make his mark at the big league level.
• Iván Herrera bats second behind the plate, giving the Cardinals a professional presence early in the order.
• Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker, and Lars Nootbaar form the heart of the St. Louis lineup and represent a genuine threat to Ureña's command.
• Masyn Winn at shortstop, Nathan Church in center, Blaze Jordan at third, and Bryan Torres as the DH round out a lineup that doesn't give Ureña much room to breathe anywhere.

Keys to the Game

• Ureña's ability to work through the Cardinals order without falling behind in counts. St. Louis is patient enough to make a starter pay for walks.
• Whether Trout and Soler can do damage against Liberatore early. Getting into the Cardinals bullpen before the sixth inning changes the complexion of this game entirely.
• Angel Stadium crowds have a way of energizing this lineup — home atmosphere matters on a Tuesday night like this.
• Jo Adell's matchup against Liberatore. If the left-hander leaves something over the plate, Adell has the bat speed to make him pay.

Prediction

This one comes down to whether Ureña can match Liberatore's efficiency through five or six innings. The Angels lineup has the firepower to score, and the home crowd at Angel Stadium gives them the edge in a close game. Expect the Halos to find enough offense to pull this one out. Angels 5, Cardinals 3.