AP Sports Preview: Brewers at Cardinals, Game 1

MILWAUKEE (55-33) at ST. LOUIS (47-40) Tuesday, July 7, 2026 (Interstat) — Busch Stadium III, St. Louis Game 1 of a doubleheader (Interstat) — First pitch: 1:15 p.m. CT Weather: 84 degrees, cloudy

The National League Central’s top two teams collide in a pivotal afternoon twinbill at Busch Stadium, with the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers visiting the second-place St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a four-game series that begins with a traditional doubleheader.

Milwaukee (55-33) owns the best record in the NL, riding a scorching stretch that has seen the Brewers win 10 of their last 13 games. They arrive in St. Louis on the heels of a 3-2 victory Sunday at Arizona, a game in which right-hander Brandon Sproat earned his fourth consecutive win. Sproat, who will not pitch in this game after starting Sunday, has been electric over his last three outings: a 6-inning, one-hit shutout at Cincinnati on June 23, followed by a 5.1-inning, two-run effort against the Reds on June 30 and a 4-inning, one-run start Sunday. His season line includes a 2.16 ERA over his last five starts, though he did allow four earned runs on June 17 against Cleveland.

In that Sunday win, first baseman Jake Bauers provided the offense with a home run and two RBIs, while reliever Trevor Megill tossed a scoreless inning.

The Cardinals (47-40) have won 10 of their last 17 despite dropping Sunday’s series finale at Chicago, 6-4. Outfielder Jordan Walker has been a force at the plate, homering twice with eight RBIs over his last four games. He went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and four RBIs on Sunday, and earlier in the week delivered a 2-for-4, four-RBI performance at Atlanta on July 2. Walker is hitting .320 over his last 10 games.

St. Louis starter Matthew Liberatore took the loss Sunday, allowing three earned runs over five innings with three strikeouts. Reliever Ryan Fernandez contributed 1.1 scoreless frames.

The teams split a six-game season series earlier this year, with Milwaukee taking three of four in St. Louis from May 4-6, and the Brewers sweeping a three-game set in Milwaukee from May 25-27. The most recent meeting was a scoreless tie Monday (Interstat) — the game was postponed due to rain and will be made up as part of Wednesday’s scheduled doubleheader.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-5 Brewers victory in Game 1.

Milwaukee continues its road trip with visits to Pittsburgh on Friday through Sunday before a nine-game homestand. St. Louis hosts Atlanta for a three-game series beginning Friday, then travels to Arizona and Los Angeles.

First pitch for Game 2 of the doubleheader is scheduled for approximately 6:45 p.m. CT.