The Philadelphia Phillies host the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, August 23, 2026, with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 PM ET. Cristopher Sánchez gets the ball for Philadelphia against St. Louis right-hander Kyle Leahy in an afternoon regular-season clash. With the Phillies' lineup stacked from top to bottom — Schwarber, Turner, Harper and company — Citizens Bank Park should be buzzing for this one. The game airs locally on NBCSP and on 94 WIP for radio listeners.

Pitching Matchup: Sánchez vs. Leahy

Cristopher Sánchez draws the Sunday afternoon assignment for the Phillies. The left-hander has been a reliable presence in Philadelphia's rotation, and getting a home start in front of the Citizens Bank Park crowd is always a boost. He'll need to be sharp against a Cardinals lineup that features some legitimate young talent.

On the other side, Kyle Leahy gets the nod for St. Louis. The Cardinals right-hander will be tested early if the Phillies' lineup does what it's capable of doing. Philadelphia does not give opposing pitchers many free innings, and Leahy will have to earn every out he records.

Phillies Lineup to Watch

Manager Rob Thomson is rolling out a formidable nine on Sunday. Here's how Philadelphia lines up:

• Kyle Schwarber — 1B (leadoff)
• Trea Turner — SS
• Bryce Harper — DH
• Bryson Stott — 2B
• Brandon Marsh — LF
• J.T. Realmuto — C
• Justin Crawford — CF
• Edmundo Sosa — 3B
• Bryan De La Cruz — RF

Schwarber at the top sets the tone — he punishes fastballs and forces pitchers to make decisions from pitch one. Trea Turner in the two-hole gives Philadelphia elite speed and on-base ability, and then Bryce Harper batting third means any baserunner is immediately dangerous. The middle of this order is a genuine threat every time through.

Cardinals Lineup and Keys for St. Louis

St. Louis counter with their own young core. Jordan Walker bats third and remains a player with real upside, while Alec Burleson slots in at cleanup at first base. Blaze Jordan at third base and JJ Wetherholt leading off give the Cardinals some intriguing pieces. The Cardinals will need production from the top of their order to keep pressure on Sánchez and stay competitive in a road environment that has not always been kind to visiting clubs.

Three Keys to Watch

• Sánchez's command early: If he can work efficiently through the Cardinals' young lineup in the first three innings, he sets up the Phillies bullpen for a comfortable finish.
• Harper and the middle of the order: The Cardinals will game-plan around Schwarber and Turner. How they pitch Harper in the three-hole — and whether he makes them pay — could decide the game's offensive rhythm.
• Justin Crawford's day in center: The young outfielder bats seventh and covers center field. His development remains one of the more interesting storylines in Philadelphia this summer. Watch how he handles Sunday's afternoon sun at Citizens Bank Park.

Prediction

This looks like a favorable matchup for Philadelphia at home. Sánchez on the mound, the full lineup in place, and a Sunday afternoon crowd at Citizens Bank Park — those are good conditions for the Phillies. Leahy will need a strong outing to keep St. Louis in it, and that is a tough ask on the road against this lineup. Phillies win, 5-2.