Cardinals Beat Astros; MLB Early Season Highlights

The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Houston Astros 8-3, led by Nolan Arenado's home run and Sonny Gray's seven scoreless innings, although Gray continues to allow a high hard-hit rate. The Cardinals are dealing with injuries to key players, including shortstop Masyn Winn, catcher Ivan Herrera, and pitcher Zack Thompson. Houston's Hunter Brown is gaining attention as an early Cy Young contender with a standout four-seam fastball and a strong season start. In other MLB action, the Arizona Diamondbacks seek a series sweep over the Miami Marlins, while the San Diego Padres maintain an 11-0 home record and prepare to face the Chicago Cubs. Notable pitching matchups, such as Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Edward Cabrera and the debut of Shota Imanaga for the Cubs, are attracting league-wide interest. Teams across MLB are looking to build on their early-season momentum amid various player injuries and standout performances.