The St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers are facing off in a crucial three-game series, with both teams fighting for playoff positioning. The Cardinals have shown improvement, boasting a 38-27 record since mid-May, but they are still in need of pitching upgrades as they approach the trade deadline, with targets including Nathan Eovaldi and Max Scherzer from the Rangers. The Rangers, currently in third place in the AL West, recently traded pitching depth and are being viewed as sellers, which could impact the trade market for the Cardinals. St. Louis is just one game back of a Wild Card spot, while Texas has struggled recently, losing three straight games to the Blue Jays. Starting pitcher Andre Pallante is making his mark for the Cardinals, while Eovaldi brings a solid record to the mound for the Rangers. This matchup could significantly influence the playoff landscape for both teams as the season progresses.