Guardians Look to Rebound Against Cardinals After Tough Weekend

Cleveland and St. Louis open a three-game interleague series on Monday night.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 12:25am

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A cubist, fragmented painting depicting a baseball game or match, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of the official team colors of the Cleveland Guardians and St. Louis Cardinals.As two teams with postseason aspirations clash, the game is deconstructed into an abstract, geometric spectacle.Kansas City Today

The Cleveland Guardians and St. Louis Cardinals will open a three-game interleague series on Monday night, with the Guardians looking to recover from a lopsided defeat against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. Cleveland right-hander Gavin Williams, who has recorded double-digit strikeouts in two of his last four starts, will take the mound against Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore, who is still seeking his first decision of the season.

Why it matters

The Guardians currently hold a share of the early-season lead in the American League Central, and they'll be looking to bounce back from a disappointing performance against the Braves. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have faced a number of American League opponents in the early going, and this series will provide an opportunity for both teams to gain ground in their respective divisions.

The details

In the series opener, Gavin Williams will make his second career start against the Cardinals, having previously pitched 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball against them in September 2024. The Guardians managed just one run in their loss to the Braves on Sunday, with rookie Chase DeLauter and Daniel Schneemann both logging multi-hit games. For the Cardinals, rookie Jordan Walker has been a bright spot, hitting a team-best seven home runs through his first 15 games, tying a franchise record.

  • The series opener is scheduled for Monday night.
  • Williams' most recent start was on Tuesday, when he allowed one run on one hit but walked five in a no-decision against the Kansas City Royals.
  • Liberatore is 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA in three appearances (two starts) against the Guardians, earning a victory with six shutout innings in a 7-0 win on June 29, 2025.

The players

Gavin Williams

A right-handed pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians who has recorded double-digit strikeouts in two of his last four regular-season starts.

Matthew Liberatore

A 26-year-old left-handed pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals who is still searching for his first decision of the 2026 season.

Jordan Walker

A rookie outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals who has hit a team-best seven home runs through his first 15 games, tying a franchise record.

Chase DeLauter

A rookie outfielder for the Cleveland Guardians who has a 1.059 OPS and has reached base in nine straight games.

Daniel Schneemann

An outfielder for the Cleveland Guardians who had a three-hit game, including two doubles, in the loss to the Braves on Sunday.

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What they’re saying

“Outside of that (home run), they couldn't really get anything going. He's got the stuff to miss bats. Obviously, in a perfect world, we'd love him to never walk anyone, like anybody, but Gavin's got the stuff to get out of it.”

— Stephen Vogt, Cleveland Guardians Manager

“You can enjoy it when it happens, but the main goal is to keep it going.”

— Jordan Walker

“I just didn't think we were good enough against the starter (Brayan Bello), bottom line. We've executed at a much higher rate than what we did (Sunday). ... You're gonna have days like that.”

— Oliver Marmol, St. Louis Cardinals Manager

The takeaway

This series between the Guardians and Cardinals promises an energetic, fast-paced matchup as both teams look to gain ground in their respective divisions. The Guardians will be aiming to bounce back from a tough loss, while the Cardinals will be looking to continue their strong start against American League opponents.