Joshua Báez had an MLB debut for the ages on Saturday, when the Cardinals rookie became the first player ever to launch three homers in his first big league game. He'll get a chance to show what he can do for an encore today as St. Louis goes for a series win against the rival Cubs at 3:15 p.m. ET on ABC.
Báez swatted homers in each of his first three MLB plate appearances on Saturday to help pace the Cardinals to an 8-4 win, which made him not only the first player with three dingers in a debut, but also the first with homers in his first three big league at-bats at any point.
What will Báez do for a follow-up? If a rubber match between two longtime rivals doesn't offer enough drama, the answer to that question should give Sunday's game a little more juice.
No player has hit more than three homers in his first two career games combined, so Báez will have a chance to make history for a second straight day should he launch another long ball.
The rookie's heroics aside, Saturday's win got the Cardinals (62-61) back on positive footing after they dropped the series opener on Friday, and kept them in a good spot in the NL Wild Card race.
St. Louis enters Sunday 3 1/2 games out of the third NL Wild Card spot. Meanwhile, the Cubs (72-52) have a firm grip on the top spot, having won seven of their past 10 games. Given their decades-long rivalry, each team would love to be an obstacle in the way of the other's postseason aspirations.
On the mound for the Cardinals in the finale will be righty Hunter Dobbins (2-3, 3.40 ERA), who's allowed more than three earned runs just once this season. He'll face a challenge with the Cubs' lineup. Led by NL MVP candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago has averaged 5.61 runs per game since the All-Star break -- which was tied for the second-highest mark in the Majors heading into Saturday night's action.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, have averaged just 3.86 runs per game since the break, which ranked 23rd in baseball after their game Saturday. Looking to keep that trend going will be Cubs righty Edward Cabrera (5-4, 5.10 ERA), who will be making his first start since late June after dealing with a left hamstring and adductor strain.
If the Cardinals' eight-run outburst on Saturday was any kind of preview, they won't be a pushover on Sunday. In addition to Báez's performance, the Cardinals also got homers from Alec Burleson, who entered Saturday with an MLB-best 30 doubles, and Blaze Jordan, who's hitting .310 with an .851 OPS in August.
But all eyes will be on Báez as he looks to build on Saturday's historic game. And if he swings the bat anything like he did in his debut, Sunday's series finale could bring some entertaining drama.