Red Sox and Cardinals Open Weekend Series

Boston and St. Louis square off in a three-game set at Busch Stadium

Apr. 9, 2026 at 11:04am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball game in progress, with players and field elements broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of color.A cubist interpretation of the opening game between the Red Sox and Cardinals, capturing the dynamic energy and competitive spirit of the matchup.St. Louis Today

The Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals begin a three-game weekend series on Friday night at Busch Stadium. The Red Sox are looking to build on back-to-back wins, while the Cardinals aim to continue their strong start to the 2026 season.

Why it matters

This early-season matchup between two historic franchises provides an intriguing interleague clash as both teams look to establish themselves in the playoff race. The Red Sox are hoping to turn their season around after a slow start, while the Cardinals are aiming to solidify their position atop the NL Central.

The details

In the series opener, Boston will send rookie right-hander Connelly Early to the mound, making his third start of the year. He'll be opposed by Cardinals righty Dustin May, who has struggled mightily in his first two outings of 2026. The game will be televised nationally on Cardinals.TV and NESN, with first pitch scheduled for 8:10 pm ET.

  • The series begins on Friday, April 10, 2026.
  • Game 1 is scheduled for an 8:10 pm ET start.

The players

Connelly Early

A 24-year-old rookie right-hander for the Boston Red Sox, making his third start of the 2026 season.

Dustin May

A 28-year-old right-handed pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, who has a 0-2 record and 15.95 ERA in his first two starts of 2026.

Boston Red Sox

The American League baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, looking to build on back-to-back wins to improve their 4-8 record.

St. Louis Cardinals

The National League baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri, aiming to continue their 7-5 start to the 2026 season.

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What they’re saying

“Raise your hand if you're tied for the league lead in home runs ✋”

— St. Louis Cardinals, Twitter account

What’s next

The Red Sox and Cardinals will continue their three-game series on Saturday and Sunday, with the final two games also scheduled for 8:10 pm ET start times.

The takeaway

This early-season interleague matchup between two storied franchises provides an intriguing test for both the Red Sox and Cardinals as they look to establish themselves in the playoff picture. The series opener features a battle of struggling pitchers, with Boston's Connelly Early looking to build on his strong start and St. Louis' Dustin May aiming to turn things around.