- Game: Washington Nationals vs. St. Louis Cardinals
- Date: Friday, September 18, 2026
- Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
- TV: Cardinals.TV
- Odds/Point Spread: Washington (+120), St. Louis (-144)
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The Washington Nationals (71-82) are set to battle the St. Louis Cardinals (75-78) at Busch Stadium this Friday. The moneyline for this matchup features the Nationals at +120 and the Cardinals at -144, with a total score line established at 8.5. Scheduled to pitch are Cade Cavalli and Cooper Hjerpe.
This season, Washington boasts a slugging percentage of .426, with 1,281 strikeouts alongside 528 walks. They have compiled 737 runs batted in and recorded 1,289 hits, achieving a batting average of .247. The Nationals have also hit 270 doubles and launched 200 home runs, resulting in a total of 778 runs scored, giving them an on-base percentage of .323. Averaging 5.1 runs per game, they sit at 3rd in the league.
The Nationals carry a team earned run average of 4.71 this season (ranking 27th in MLB), having struck out 1,197 batters. The pitching staff has conceded 204 home runs and allowed a total of 775 runs (27th overall). With 572 walks issued, their FIP stands at 4.73. Washington has given up 1,312 hits (8.7 per 9 innings), resulting in 710 earned runs. They maintain a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.09 and a collective WHIP of 1.39.
The Nationals’ bullpen holds a save percentage of 48.7%, entering 154 save situations, converting 37 while failing 39 out of 76 chances. This season, the relief pitchers have inherited 251 runners, with 40.6% scoring. They have participated in high-stakes situations 161 times and issued 482 relievers throughout the year, tallying up 72 holds (ranked 23rd in the league).
This defensive unit has transformed 69.7% of balls in play into outs across 12,204 innings, placing them 15th in the majors. Currently, Washington has achieved 4,068 putouts, alongside 1,381 assists and 98 errors, with a fielding percentage of .982, sitting at 29th in the league, and they have successfully executed 128 double plays.
Cade Cavalli, with a career record of 15-7, holds a FIP of 3.55 after facing 929 batters in the majors. He has surrendered 207 hits (8.6 hits per nine innings) and recorded 65 walks, while his earned run average rests at 3.60 (with 87 earned runs). His career WHIP stands at 1.252, having pitched for 217 innings while striking out 240 batters.
The St. Louis Cardinals showcase a team on-base percentage of .316 and a batting average of .242 this season. With 1,204 strikeouts (25th in MLB) and 1,250 hits, they have hit 158 home runs and notched 671 RBIs. The team holds a slugging percentage of .382, averaging 4.53 runs per game (12th in the league). They have also recorded 221 doubles, drawing 491 walks, and totaling 693 runs.
The Cardinals pitching staff has allowed 707 runs this season, resulting in a 4.28 ERA (649 earned runs). They’ve permitted 152 homers and allow 4.66 runs per 9 innings (21st in MLB). St. Louis has a team WHIP of 1.357 and a FIP of 4.10. Their K/BB ratio stands at 8.00 (1,216 strikeouts versus 532 walks), ranking them 27th in the league for hits allowed (1,319).
St. Louis’s bullpen holds a 40.8% inherited run score percentage from 233 inherited runners. This season, they’ve appeared in 192 high-leverage situations and been called to pitch 158 times with runners on base. In 175 save situations, they have recorded 96 holds alongside 30 blown saves, ranking 20th in MLB with a save rate of 60.0%, dispatching 521 relievers throughout the year.
Defensive metrics show the Cardinals with 148 double plays and a fielding percentage of .988, ranking 6th in professional baseball. They have achieved 1,428 assists, 68 errors, and 4,094 putouts across their 12,282 innings, with a defensive efficiency of 68.9% (26th in the league).
In his brief professional career, Cooper Hjerpe has yielded 2 hits and recorded 9 strikeouts in 5 innings. With a 1-0 record, he currently holds a 7.20 ERA, allowing 3.6 hits per nine innings. He has given up 4 earned runs and possesses a WHIP of 1.200, along with a FIP of 7.1, facing 23 batters in his MLB debut.
Who will claim victory in tonight’s MLB encounter, either against the spread or on the moneyline?
Pick: Back Washington (+120)
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