The San Francisco Giants head to Busch Stadium on Wednesday, September 16, for a 1:15 PM ET afternoon matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals. Right-hander Anthony Molina gets the ball for San Francisco against Cardinals lefty Matthew Liberatore. With the regular season winding down, every game carries weight in the standings, and the Giants will need a strong performance from a young starter to leave St. Louis with a win. Catch the action on NBCS BA or listen on KNBR 680.

Giants vs. Cardinals Pitching Matchup: Molina vs. Liberatore

Anthony Molina draws the start for the Giants, and this is a genuine opportunity for a young arm to step up on the road. Molina has worked his way into the San Francisco rotation, and a strong outing against a Cardinals lineup that mixes veteran experience with younger talent would be a meaningful statement heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

On the other side, Matthew Liberatore takes the mound for St. Louis. The left-hander has been part of the Cardinals' pitching mix and presents a different look than Giants hitters may see on a nightly basis. San Francisco's lineup will need to make adjustments early and stay disciplined against a pitcher who can work both sides of the plate.

Giants Lineup to Watch at Busch Stadium

Manager Farhan Zaidi's group lines up as follows for Wednesday's game:

• Jonah Cox, CF
• Bryce Eldridge, 1B
• Brett Harris, 3B
• Jung Hoo Lee, DH
• Shay Whitcomb, 2B
• Turner Hill, LF
• Andrew Knizner, C
• Scott Bandura, RF
• Christian Koss, SS

Jung Hoo Lee slotting in at the cleanup spot as the designated hitter gives San Francisco a legitimate offensive anchor in the middle of the order. Bryce Eldridge batting second keeps a power presence near the top, while Jonah Cox leading off gives the Giants a centerfield presence to set the table. Brett Harris hitting third rounds out a top of the order that can do damage if it gets on base consistently against Liberatore.

Cardinals Lineup: Key Threats for Giants Pitching

Molina will face a Cardinals order anchored by Jordan Walker in the four hole and Alec Burleson hitting third. JJ Wetherholt leads off at second base, giving St. Louis a quick-twitch presence at the top. Nolan Gorman drops to the six spot, which still represents a dangerous bat capable of punishing a mistake pitch. Molina cannot afford to leave anything over the middle to Walker or Gorman — both have the raw power to change a game in one swing.

Keys to the Game

• Molina limiting the Cardinals' middle-of-the-order damage from Walker and Gorman is the single biggest factor in this game.
• The Giants' top three of Cox, Eldridge, and Harris need to get on base against Liberatore early and force the Cardinals to work deep into counts.
• Jung Hoo Lee producing in the cleanup spot could be the difference-maker if San Francisco gets traffic on the bases.
• Bullpen management matters in a day game — if Molina exits before the sixth, San Francisco needs its relief corps to hold serve.

Prediction: Giants Take a Close One

This is a winnable game for San Francisco. Molina has a chance to put together a quality start, and the Cardinals lineup, while capable, is not without its vulnerabilities against a pitcher who can locate effectively. The Giants' lineup has enough in the middle — particularly with Lee and Eldridge — to generate runs against Liberatore. Call it a 4-3 Giants win in a tight, well-played afternoon game at Busch Stadium.