The New York Yankees are set to begin a pivotal three-game weekend series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, August 15, 2025, but a significant injury concern is casting a shadow over the matchup. First baseman Paul Goldschmidt, a former National League MVP with the Cardinals, is dealing with a low-grade right knee sprain, and his availability for his anticipated return to Busch Stadium is in question.
The injury occurred during Tuesday’s 9-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins when Goldschmidt slipped while chasing a foul pop-up. Although he finished the game, he was held out of Wednesday’s lineup. According to a report from The Associated Press, manager Aaron Boone stated the team will evaluate Goldschmidt and decide before Friday’s game whether a stint on the injured list is necessary. “He’s dealing with something so we’ll see if it’s an IL situation,” Boone said. Goldschmidt, who spent six seasons in St. Louis, signed a one-year, $12.5 million contract with the Yankees in the offseason and has been a steady presence, hitting .276 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs in 112 games.
The series is critical for the Yankees (64-57), who currently occupy the third and final American League Wild Card spot. They enter St. Louis following a 4-1 loss to Minnesota. The Cardinals (61-61), meanwhile, sit fourth in the NL Central and are looking to build momentum after a 6-5 win over the Colorado Rockies. Historically, the Cardinals have had the Yankees’ number in recent meetings, winning seven of their last ten matchups, according to data from Statmuse.
The series opener on Friday is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET. The pitching matchup will feature the Yankees’ Luis Gil against the Cardinals’ Andre Pallante. Gil (0-1, 7.27 ERA) will be looking for a strong outing, while Pallante (6-9, 4.95 ERA) aims to secure a home victory for his team. Both clubs share an identical .249 team batting average, but the Yankees hold a significant power advantage, having hit 191 home runs to the Cardinals’ 115, as per ESPN team stats.
The Yankees’ offense is led by superstar Aaron Judge, who boasts a formidable .333 batting average, 38 home runs, and 88 RBIs. For the Cardinals, Willson Contreras leads the team with 16 home runs and 65 RBIs. Should Goldschmidt be sidelined, the Yankees may turn to Ben Rice or Cody Bellinger to fill the void at first base.
The entire series will be a test for a Yankees team fighting to maintain its playoff position against a club that has recently performed well against them. Fans can watch Friday’s game on the YES Network, with out-of-market streaming available on MLB.TV. Saturday’s game will be broadcast nationally on FOX at 7:15 p.m. ET, and the series will conclude Sunday at 2:15 p.m. ET back on the YES Network.
Series Schedule:
- Friday, Aug. 15: 8:15 p.m. ET (YES Network)
- Saturday, Aug. 16: 7:15 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Sunday, Aug. 17: 2:15 p.m. ET (YES Network)
