51ºÚÁÏ

As he winds down his first season as a full-time starter, to say things aren't going well for Andre Pallante would be an understatement.

Pallante starts Saturday at 6:15 p.m. as the Cardinals continue their three-game home series vs. the streaking Giants at Busch StadiumÌýin a game airing on Fox.

The Giants pounced on Michael McGreevy early en route to an 8-2 win in the opener Friday.

Saturday's starter, theÌýright-hander Pallante (6-13, 5.38 ERA) went 0-6 with an 8.67 ERA in August, picking up the loss every time he took the mound. In his last 12 starts, the Cardinals are 1-11.

With another loss, Pallante will join six other Cardinals starters to record 14 or more losses in a season since 1995. Half of them also had double-digit wins, so Pallante is likely to record one of the worst seasons by a Cardinals starter in decades, at least record-wise.

With another 18 innings pitched, he would also record one of the worst full-season ERAs by a qualified Cardinals starter since 1947.

The Cardinals have stuck with PallanteÌýso that he can continue refining and testing pitches at the major-league level for feedback he would not get at Class AAA Memphis. In his last outing, he recorded six strikeouts, his second-highest total since mid-June.Ìý

That was accomplished in part with heavier slider usage. In that outing, he threw more sliders than four-seamers for just the second time this season. Both of those games have come in the past month.

Pallante has improved his whiff rate each year since his 2022 debut, but he's also allowing more hard contact as well as suffering a bit of bad luck. His expected ERA, based on quality of contact, is a run better than his actual ERA.

The Giants will start 42-year-old right-hander Justin Verlander (3-10, 4.29 ERA). After a slow start, Verlander, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, has a 2.98 ERA in his last eight starts.

He threw 121 pitches last time out, the second-most by any pitcher this season.

Pallante was 6 years old when Verlander debuted in 2005.

The Cardinals are 70-72 and 6 1/2 games out of the final wild-card spot. They would have to pass four teams, one of which is the Giants, to claim that spot.

The Giants are 72-69 and have won five straight and 11 of 12 to move within four games of the final wild-card spot.

Game airs on Fox, many outlying areas out of luck

Saturday's game airs only on Fox, in 51ºÚÁÏ on KTVI (Channel 2).

Nationally, it's one of three games airing on Fox simultaneously. One involves the Royals facing the Twins, and the other involves the two Texas teams, so many areas that traditionally would get Cardinals broadcasts may receive another game instead.

Big portions of Missouri will instead of the Cardinals, while most of Arkansas also will be left out.

For viewers living in a part of the country where the local Fox affiliate is not broadcasting the Cardinals, the game will be with a subscription.

How to watch Cardinals vs. Giants

When:Ìý6:15 p.m. Saturday

Where:ÌýBusch Stadium in 51ºÚÁÏ

TV/radio:ÌýFox Network regionally, KTVI (Channel 2) in 51ºÚÁÏ (); KMOX (1120 AM and 104.1 FM), other stations in the as well as .

Lineups

CARDINALS

1. Lars Nootbaar, LF

2. Iván Herrera, DH

3. Nolan Gorman, 1B

4. Masyn Winn, SS

5. Jimmy Crooks, C

6. Thomas Saggese, 2B

7. Jordan Walker, RF

8. Victor Scott II, CF

9. José Fermín, 3B

P:ÌýAndre Pallante, RHP

GIANTS

1. Jung Hoo Lee, CF

2. Rafael Devers, 1B

3. Willy Adames, SS

4. Dominic Smith, DH

5. Matt Chapman, 3B

6. Casey Schmitt, 2B

7. Drew Gilbert, RF

8. Luis Matos, LF

9. Patrick Bailey, C

P: Justin Verlander, RHP

Injury report

Nolan Arenado, 3B (right shoulder strain):ÌýArenado rejoined the Cardinals at Busch Stadium on the field Friday and he’ll be with the team throughout the weekend to continue his recovery from shoulder tendinitis and a jammed finger. If his weekend workouts go well and Arenado’s arm feels strong throwing, he’ll head to Class AA Springfield as soon as Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment there. Arenado said his goal is to return to the Cardinals on Sept. 15 when they host Cincinnati.ÌýÌýUpdated Sept. 5

Alec Burleson, 1B/OF (right wrist pain):ÌýBurleson has not had any limitations or soreness after rounds of batting practice over the past few days and could be back in the lineup when he’s first eligible Monday in Seattle. The Cardinals believe if his weekend work goes well, Burleson will not need a rehab assignment before jumping back into big-league games.ÌýUpdated Sept. 5

Brendan Donovan, 2B (sprained toe/left groin):ÌýAn injury sustained before the All-Star break persists and is likely contributing to soreness in his leg and groin, the infielder said. The Cardinals placed him on the 10-day injured list Aug. 18 retroactive to Aug. 15.ÌýDonovanÌýcontinued to increase his baseball activities and hitting work with an eye on starting a rehab assignment some time in the coming week. It’s possible his timeline overlaps with Arenado at Class AA.ÌýUpdated Sept. 5

John King, LHP (mid-back strain): King’s back injury is believed to be related to the left oblique strain that landed him on the IL near the end of July and kept him sidelined through the first three weeks of August. King tried throwing before Tuesday’s game and felt discomfort and underwent imaging. A timeline for his recovery could become clearer later this week, Cardinals manager Oli Marmol said, but King said he believes the injury wouldn’t sideline him through the rest of the season.ÌýUpdated Aug. 28

Riley O'Brien, RHP (right shoulder soreness):ÌýAfter undergoing imaging on his right shoulder early Monday, O’Brien could be seen playing catch Monday. O’Brien, 30, hasn’t appeared in a game since Thursday but remains on the active roster. Marmol said he'll look to avoid using O'Brien during the Cardinals' three-game series vs. the Athletics with the hope the righty will be available Friday in Seattle. O'Brien said he first felt a “little bit of extra soreness and tightnessâ€� in his shoulder about a week ago from Monday. Some of the sensations of soreness and tightness has lessened since, but he described a lingering discomfort. Updated Sept. 1

Zack Thompson, LHP (shoulder, lat strain):ÌýLefty starter remains on a throwing program in Jupiter, trying to overcome some setbacks as he increased the intensity of his throws through the course of the season. He's visited 51ºÚÁÏ for evaluation to monitor if the injury worsens. Thompson has been sidelined since the start of March and was transferred to the 60-day injured list in early April. There is no timetable for his return to the mound.ÌýUpdated Aug. 6