5/25 GDT: Cardinals(Flaherty) @ White Sox(Giolito) 7:10 PM CT

[CardsofSTL]

Cardinals @ White Sox
7:10 PM CT - May 25, 2021
Guaranteed Rate Field - Chicago, IL
Watch: Cardinals - BSMW/White Sox - NBCSCH
Listen: Cardinals - KMOX 1120/White Sox - WMVP 1000

[CardsofSTL]

[CardsofSTL]

Lucas Giolito and Jack Flaherty met at Guaranteed Rate Field approximately four hours before the White Sox played host to the Cardinals in Monday night’s Interleague series opener.

The duo eventually got together with White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz for a picture. It was a Harvard-Westlake High School reunion, with Giolito and Flaherty having pitched together in that same rotation, along with Atlanta’s Max Fried, all of whom were coached by Katz. That period in Los Angeles was the precursor to their Major League success, with Giolito, Flaherty and Fried all making Opening Day starts for their clubs during the 2021 season.

But this bond of friendship will take a slightly different turn Tuesday when Giolito and Flaherty take the mound opposite one another as their respective team’s hurler. It’s the first time they will pitch against each other, by their recollection.

“Definitely one day, [we’ve discussed] all being in [the league], all three of us,” Flaherty said. “In terms of matching up, I don't know if that was ever [discussed]. I think it's more of a conversation of Max vs. Lucas, and hopefully that happens at some point. But it’s going to be fun.”

Flaherty knew there was a chance that the two could face off. After his last start Wednesday, he saw that Giolito had thrown the same day in Minnesota, and with both teams having off-days that ensuing Thursday, the rotations for the respective Central division leaders lined up perfectly.

“It was right after my game, my last one, he shot me a text saying, ‘Are you going Tuesday?’” Giolito said. “And I was like, ‘Yup, that's when I'm slated for.’ And then I kind of looked at his schedule, like, ‘Oh, OK! Cool.’ So it was like five days ago.”

“Once it happened, it was like, ‘All right, this would be cool, this would be fun,’” Flaherty said.

And it won’t just be a Flaherty-Giolito reunion Tuesday.

Matt LaCour, the duo’s head coach at Harvard-Westlake, is said to be flying in for the game. Katz has kept a close relationship with Flaherty, and he might be the one character who is able to get Flaherty off balance before the contest starts, as he and Giolito warm up on opposite sides of the outfield grass.

“I'll probably laugh for a split second or whatnot,“ Flaherty smiled. “He's going to try to get me out of what I do. I know he's going to try and talk to me, come out there and see me before the game.”

Will it work?

“Of course not,” Flaherty added.

Giolito said he has no interest in stepping into the batter’s box against Flaherty, beyond maybe trying to distract him with a silly face, and is thankful they’ll be playing in an American League park with a designated hitter. Flaherty has been texting Giolito excitedly about the possibility of them facing each other, and their high school coach Matt LaCour is flying out for the game. Giolito said that just taking pictures with Flaherty and now-White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz before Monday’s game is the sort of memory he can step back from the grind of a season and truly enjoy.

The game itself is always different.

“It’s not hard to stay focused if you’re going about your preparation,” Flaherty said. “The only thing different is the guy on the mound on the other side who I won’t really even watch. I hope we get him. I hope we score some runs.”

“Any time I’m pitching against a guy like (Shane) Bieber or (Jacob) deGrom or Flaherty, it adds fun for me,” Giolito said. “A lot of people will say it’s more pressure or it’s a top pitcher going against us, stuff like that. But I find it to be more fun because it’s like, ‘All right, get up for this game.'”

Ultimately, this competition is about winning. Flaherty enters with an 8-0 record, 2.53 ERA and 55 strikeouts over 53 1/3 innings. Giolito is coming off one of his best starts of the season, striking out 11 over eight innings in a 2-1 victory over the Twins, and raising his strikeout total to 61 over 49 2/3 innings.

These staff aces have battled other No. 1 starters in the past. But this contest has a little more of a personal connection.

“We have a very, very strong relationship, and it runs from friendship to teammates and [then] being in pro ball, obviously different organizations,” Giolito said. “Getting together in the offseason, working on things. I've asked him plenty of questions about his slider in the past, he's asked me questions about my changeup. And kind of watching each other, all that kind of stuff. We've been doing that forever.”

“It's going to be a special day, and I know both teams want to present their starting pitcher with a lot of offense and a lot of defense,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “It will be a classic competition. I'm looking forward to it.”

[MinorLeagueGuy]

Jack may need to provide his own offense.

[CardsofSTL]

The Cardinals continue to take their nicks and bruises, with Harrison Bader the latest entry into the list of ailing outfielders.

The center fielder left Monday’s 5-1 series-opening loss against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field with a right side rib injury in the bottom of the third inning. Manager Mike Shildt said that initial imaging came back positive, however, and Bader is considered day to day. He is set for more testing Tuesday.

“He’s in some discomfort,” Shildt said. “But we're optimistic it's not a fracture.”

Bader’s departure proved to be just one tally in an overall inauspicious day, as St. Louis was no-hit by former Cardinal Lance Lynn for 5 1/3 innings, saw starter Kwang Hyun Kim deal before being chased by a two-run homer in the sixth and fell while facing manager Tony La Russa for the first time, dropping its sixth contest in its last nine games.

For Bader, the night went awry when he dove after a sinking liner in shallow right-center off the bat of Chicago second baseman Nick Madrigal, after which the ball bounced off the heel of his glove and caromed under his ribcage, which, along with his right arm, broke his fall.

It was the circumstance of landing on the ball in an awkward manner that nicked Bader in a more serious manner than simply coming up from a tough dive -- which he’s done many times in his high-flying career.

Bader was paid a quick visit from Shildt and head trainer Adam Olsen and was removed from the game, walking off the field without any aid.

Any time missed for Bader, which seems doubtful at initial glance, would be his second time on the shelf this season, as he missed almost the entirety of April with a right forearm strain. He’s been an equalizing force for the outfield since his return on April 30, providing Gold Glove-caliber defense and posting solid offensive numbers before a 1-for-19 mini-skid entering Monday’s action.

[Jocephus]

The Chicago White Sox are 9-6 at home this season and the St. Louis Cardinals are 9-6 on the road this season. This is a close match-up with both teams having a 45 to 55 percent chance of winning based on 10,000 game simulations generated one play at a time by the AccuScore Simulation Supercomputer. Both starters have a relatively low chance of having a quality start. Lucas Giolito has a 44% chance of a QS and Jack Flaherty a 45% chance. If Lucas Giolito has a quality start the White Sox has a 75% chance of winning. His simulated strikeout to walk ratio is 4.7 and he has a 29% chance of having a 5 to 1 K/BB ratio. When he has a 5/1 ratio the White Sox win 52%. If Jack Flaherty has a quality start the Cardinals has a 70% chance of winning. His simulated strikeout to walk ratio is 5.5 and he has a 36% chance of having a 5 to 1 K/BB ratio. When he has a 5/1 ratio the Cardinals win 51%. In simulations we tracked the batter for each team that was most productive based his average hits, walks and RBI per simulation. The most productive batter for the Chicago White Sox is Tim Anderson who averaged 2.43 hits+walks+RBI. He has a 42% chance of having a big game with 3+ Hits, Walks, RBI and if he has a big game the White Sox have a 63% chance of winning. The most productive batter for the St. Louis Cardinals is Nolan Arenado who averaged 2.53 hits+walks+RBI. He has a 44% chance of having a big game with 3+ Hits, Walks, RBI and if he has a big game the Cardinals have a 62% chance of winning.

[CardsofSTL]

This is a close match-up with both teams having a 45 to 55 percent chance of winning based on 10,000 game simulations

I usually like our chances with Jack on the mound...but our offense has been struggling and don't see how going up against Giolito is going to break them out.

[heyzeus]

did yall know Flaherty and Giolito went to HS together?

[Jocephus]

did yall know Flaherty and Giolito went to HS together?

take a shot for all times its mentioned on broadcast

[InvincibleCakeEater]

I like it when Flaherty pitches.