Washington Nationals vs. St. Louis Cardinals Preview, 7/9/2025 MLB Predictions, Top Bets & Odds

Matchup: Washington Nationals vs St. Louis Cardinals

Event Date: Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Venue: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO

Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest

Betting Odds: Washington (+106) St. Louis (-128)

On Wednesday, the St. Louis Cardinals (48-43) will face off against the Washington Nationals (37-53) at Busch Stadium. The odds for this matchup place the Nationals at +106 while the Cardinals are at -128. The game total is set at 9. Starting pitchers for the match will be MacKenzie Gore and Andre Pallante.

For the season, the Washington Nationals are averaging 4.4 runs per game, ranking them 16th in the MLB. They have scored a total of 397 runs with an on-base percentage (OBP) of .314. Collectively, the Nationals have recorded 145 doubles and hit 87 home runs, tallying 380 RBIs and 750 hits, with a team batting average of .247. The team’s slugging percentage stands at .390 with 683 strikeouts, while they have drawn 264 walks.

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Washington’s pitching staff has a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.35 and a combined WHIP of 1.40. This season, they have allowed 111 home runs and a total of 483 runs (28th in MLB). The Nationals’ pitchers have given up 814 hits (averaging 9.2 hits per 9 innings) and 455 earned runs. Currently, their team ERA is 5.16, making them 28th in the league, with 705 strikeouts logged. The pitching staff has issued 300 walks and their FIP stands at 4.47 for the season.

The Nationals’ relief squad boasts a save percentage of 59.4%, having encountered 69 save opportunities. They have dealt with 171 inherited base runners this season, with 41.5% of these crossing the plate. Nationals pitchers have entered games with opponents on base 99 times and have made 72 high-leverage appearances. With a total of 308 relief appearances this year, the bullpen has secured 37 holds (28th in MLB) and achieved 19 saves, but have squandered 13 of their 32 save chances.

This year, the Washington Nationals have recorded 2,382 putouts, 755 assists, and 48 errors. Their fielding percentage is .985, ranking them 22nd in the pro leagues, along with 64 double plays. The Nationals have converted 68.3% of balls put into play into outs across 7,146 innings, placing them 25th in professional baseball.

Gore (career win-loss record of 24-34) has posted a FIP of 3.91, facing 2,051 batters in Major League Baseball. He has given up 463 hits (8.7 hits every 9 innings) along with 193 walks. His ERA is 3.97, allowing 210 earned runs, and his WHIP is at 1.377. Gore has pitched for 476 innings and has accrued 535 strikeouts in his career.

The St. Louis Cardinals have an OBP of .321 and a batting average of .251 for the season. They have struck out 708 times (24th in MLB) and accumulated 776 hits. The Cardinals have hit 91 home runs this year and amassed 394 RBIs. Their team slugging percentage is .392, averaging 4.55 runs per game (12th in league). They have also recorded 154 doubles, drawn 284 walks, and scored 414 runs.

The Cardinals’ pitching staff carries a team WHIP of 1.274 and a FIP of 3.83. They are ranked 23rd in total hits allowed, with 776 against them. This season, the St. Louis pitchers have surrendered 399 runs, achieving a team ERA of 4.09 (366 earned runs). The K/BB ratio stands at an impressive 7.40 (660 strikeouts against 251 walks). They have allowed 84 home runs and yield 4.45 runs every 9 innings (18th in the league).

With 89 save situations, the Cardinals have logged 51 holds and faced 13 blown saves. They have utilized bullpen arms 35 times in save scenarios, resulting in 22 saves. St. Louis’s relievers have made 98 high-leverage appearances and have been brought in 89 times with runners on base. Their inherited score percentage is 36.4% from 121 inherited runners. They rank 13th in the league with a save percentage of 62.9%, dispatching 271 bullpen pitchers this year.