Sports Today Friday, September 11
← Back to today’s slate MLB matchup · September 11, 2026
Chicago White Sox
75-71 · 1st in AL Central
Offense cooling lately
LHP Anthony Kay · Pitches to contact
@
St. Louis Cardinals
72-75 · 4th in NL Central, 19 GB
Bats heating up
LHP Matthew Liberatore · Balanced starter
MLB · Busch Stadium · 5:15 PM PT

Team Identity

Chicago White Sox
Season-to-date, 146 games, 5,736 PA.
A power-hitting offense that does damage on extra-base hits, though it can be strikeout-prone. The offense has cooled off recently.
Power
Above Avg73
Contact
Below Avg26
Plate Discipline
Average62
Speed
Below Avg27
RISP
Below Avg36
Recent Form
Trending Down
Hit rate is down 18% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.
St. Louis Cardinals
Season-to-date, 147 games, 5,780 PA.
A balanced offense without a standout strength or glaring weakness. The bats have been heating up lately.
Power
Well Below21
Contact
Average57
Plate Discipline
Below Avg32
Speed
Average63
RISP
Average60
Recent Form
Trending Up
Hit rate is up 16% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.

What This Game Is About

Biggest Advantage

White Sox's offense is defined by being power-hitting, and this game tests whether Cardinals can match it.

Swing Factor

White Sox rank in the 73rd percentile in extra-base production, while Matthew Liberatore sits in the 18th percentile at suppressing total bases.

Momentum

White Sox are trending down and Cardinals are trending up over their last 10 games.

Key Matchups

Can Matthew Liberatore limit White Sox's power?
White Sox rank in the 73rd percentile in extra-base production, while Matthew Liberatore sits in the 18th percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · White SoxWhite Sox: 0.346 TB/PAMatthew Liberatore: 0.397 TB/PA allowed (642 PA)High confidence
Can Matthew Liberatore miss enough bats?
Matthew Liberatore strikes hitters out at a 22.4% clip (60th percentile); White Sox carry a 23.2% strikeout rate.
Edge · Matthew LiberatoreMatthew Liberatore: 22.4% K rateWhite Sox: 23.2% K rateHigh confidence
Can Anthony Kay miss enough bats?
Anthony Kay strikes hitters out at a 17.8% clip (25th percentile); Cardinals carry a 20.0% strikeout rate.
Edge · CardinalsAnthony Kay: 17.8% K rateCardinals: 20.0% K rateHigh confidence
Can Anthony Kay command the strike zone?
Cardinals walk in 8.1% of trips; Anthony Kay allows walks sparingly (7.4%).
Edge · Anthony KayCardinals: 8.1% walk rateAnthony Kay: 7.4% walks allowedHigh confidence
Can Anthony Kay limit Cardinals' power?
Cardinals rank in the 21st percentile in extra-base production, while Anthony Kay sits in the 35th percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · Anthony KayCardinals: 0.331 TB/PAAnthony Kay: 0.362 TB/PA allowed (650 PA)High confidence

Pitcher Trends

Anthony Kay
Anthony Kay
Chicago White Sox · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts4.5/start
Hits allowed5.9/start
6+ Hits Allowed — 5 of last 64 or fewer Strikeouts — 4 of last 6
18% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.
Matthew Liberatore
Matthew Liberatore
St. Louis Cardinals · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts6.1/start
Hits allowed5.2/start
6+ Strikeouts — 4 of last 64 or fewer Hits Allowed — 3 of last 6
22% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.

Player Trends

Thomas Saggese
Thomas Saggese
St. Louis Cardinals · 0.381 hit rate · 0.667 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L54 / 5L109 / 10L2513 / 25
Total bases per PA is up 173% over his prior baseline, with hits in 9 of his last 10 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 17%.
Joshua Baez
Joshua Baez
St. Louis Cardinals · 0.324 hit rate · 0.588 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L54 / 5L108 / 10L2515 / 25
Hit rate is up 112% over his prior baseline, with hits in 8 of his last 10 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 24%.
Kyle Teel
Kyle Teel
Chicago White Sox · 0.188 hit rate · 0.562 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L104 / 10L2512 / 25
Total bases per PA is up 108% over his prior baseline, with hits in 2 of his last 6 games.
Munetaka Murakami
Munetaka Murakami
Chicago White Sox · 0.091 hit rate · 0.227 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L53 / 5L104 / 10L2510 / 25
Hit rate is down 46% over his prior baseline, with hits in 4 of his last 10 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 48%.
Jordan Walker
Jordan Walker
St. Louis Cardinals · 0.178 hit rate · 0.311 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L51 / 5L105 / 10L2516 / 25
On-base rate is down 34% over his prior baseline, with hits in 5 of his last 10 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 38%.
Andrew Benintendi
Andrew Benintendi
Chicago White Sox · 0.125 hit rate · 0.219 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L103 / 10L2513 / 25
Hit rate is down 44% over his prior baseline, with hits in 3 of his last 10 games.

Players Positioned to Succeed

89
Ivan Herrera
Ivan Herrera
1+ Hit
St. Louis Cardinals
Why it stands out
Batting 2nd, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
76
Alec Burleson
Alec Burleson
1+ Hit
St. Louis Cardinals
Why it stands out
Batting 4th, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
75
Leo Bernal
Leo Bernal
1+ Hit
St. Louis Cardinals
Why it stands out
Batting 6th, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
68
Thomas Saggese
Thomas Saggese
1+ Hit
St. Louis Cardinals
Why it stands out
Batting 7th, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
66
Miguel Vargas
Miguel Vargas
1+ Hit
Chicago White Sox
Why it stands out
Batting 3rd, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
62
Jordan Walker
Jordan Walker
1+ Hit
St. Louis Cardinals
Why it stands out
Batting 3rd, confirmed lineup
Main risk
Ice cold — 1 hit in the last 25 plate appearances

Expected Game Shape

BalancedLow confidence

Competitive profile without a clear stylistic tilt. Cardinals bring stronger recent momentum. White Sox bring more power.

Early edge White Sox Driver No single dominant factor Volatility Elevated
  • Both probable starters grade around the 40th percentile in combined suppression.
  • White Sox are trending down; Cardinals are trending up.

Storylines to Watch

Does White Sox's power tilt the game?
White Sox bring a clearly stronger extra-base profile into this matchup.
White Sox power pct 73 vs Cardinals 21
Is Thomas Saggese the one to watch?
Thomas Saggese enters as Cardinals' hottest bat. Total bases per PA is up 173% over his prior baseline, with hits in 9 of his last 10 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 17%.
0.381 hit rate · 0.667 TB/PA · 0.163 hit rate · 0.244 TB/PA
Can Munetaka Murakami snap out of it?
Munetaka Murakami has cooled off. Hit rate is down 46% over his prior baseline, with hits in 4 of his last 10 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 48%.
0.091 hit rate · 0.227 TB/PA · 0.170 hit rate · 0.387 TB/PA
Based on plate appearances before 2026-09-11, with today's posted lineups when available. Injuries, weather, bullpen availability, and park factors are not yet included.