ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

There will be more opportunity for younger players going forward, and it starts with Friday night's series opener at San Diego, which begins at 8:40 p.m. (St. Louis time).

The Cardinals shipped off closer Ryan Helsley and relievers Phil Maton and Steven Matz, opening the door for younger players to move up either in the pecking order or up from Triple-A to the majors.

Additionally, before Friday's game, the Cardinals placed third baseman Nolan Arenado (right shoulder strain) on the 10-day injured list, creating more opportunity for Nolan Gorman. He was activated Friday from the injured list ABD will start at third base and bat sixth.

Three relievers were called up from Triple-A Memphis to take the places of those the Cardinals traded: right-handers Andre Granillo, Roddery Munoz and Ryan Fernandez.

That opportunity for unproven players begins against likely playoff teams in front of big crowds on a West Coast swing through San Diego and Los Angeles.

For the Cardinals, left-hander Matthew Liberatore (6-8, 4.04 ERA) will take the mound. He suffered the loss to the Padres in his last outing, going 4 1/3 innings and allowing two runs, one of them earned, on six hits in his first start after two weeks off.

Right-hander Nick Pivetta (10-3, 2.81 ERA) starts for the Padres. He was at the center of a benches-clearing incident last Friday, one of two in two days at Busch Stadium when he hit Willson Contreras and the two exchanged words.

While the Cardinals sold at the deadline, the Padres were among the most prolific buyers, acquiring reliever Mason Miller and first baseman Ryan O'Hearn, among others. New acquisition Ramon Laureano will start in left field Friday.

The Cardinals are 55-55, their first time at the .500 mark in nearly three months. They're 8-17 in their last 24 games and trail the Padres for the final wild-card spot by 5 1/2 games.

San Diego is 60-49.

How to watch Cardinals at Padres

When: 8:40 p.m. Friday

Where: Petco Park in San Diego

TV/radio: FanDuel ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Network Midwest (); KMOX (1120 AM and 104.1 FM), other stations in the as well as .

Your options to watch: Input your ZIP code and see your choices for watching Cardinals games.

Lineups

CARDINALS

1. Brendan Donovan, 2B

2. Iván Herrera, DH

3. Alec Burleson, LF

4. Willson Contreras, 1B

5. Masyn Winn, SS

6. Nolan Gorman, 3B

7. Jordan Walker, RF

8. Yohel Pozo, C

9. Victor Scott II, CF

P: Matthew Liberatore, LHP

PADRES

1. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF

2. Luis Arraez, 1B

3. Manny Machado, 3B

4. Jackson Merrill, CF

5. Xander Bogaerts, SS

6. Ramón Laureano, LF

7. Jake Cronenworth, 2B

8. Jose Iglesias, DH

9. Elias Díaz, C

P: Nick Pivetta, RHP

Injury report

Lars Nootbaar, OF (left costochondral sprain): Nootbaar went through pregame workouts with the Cardinals on Tuesday before heading to Springfield, Missouri, to begin a rehab assignment on Wednesday with the Cardinals’ Class AA affiliate. Updated July 29

John King, LHP (left oblique strain): King was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday after he left Tuesday's game in the middle of an at-bat with left side tightness. Updated July 29

Nolan Arenado, 3B (right shoulder strain): Arenado went on the 10-day injured list Friday afternoon with a shoulder injury he’s spent the past month trying to play through. There is no timetable for his return. Updated Aug. 1

Zack Thompson, LHP (shoulder, lat strain): Lefty starter could begin a throwing program next week, Marmol said. Thompson has been sidelined since the start of March and was transferred to the 60-day injured list in early April. There is no timetable for his return to the mound. Updated July 24