First pitch: 7:45 p.m. ET
Venue: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
Probable starters: RHP Landen Roupp (Giants, 9-13, 4.00 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 139 SO in 150.2 IP) vs. LHP Quinn Mathews (Cardinals, 1-3, 4.11 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 28 SO in 30.2 IP)
TV: Cardinals.TV / relevant regional networks (and streaming options such as Fubo)
This is Game 1 of a three-game series. Both teams are out of serious contention (Giants fourth in the NL West; Cardinals fourth in the NL Central), so the focus is on development, evaluation, and playing out the schedule.
Weather Forecast
Warm and mostly sunny conditions. Temperature around 83–87°F at first pitch (high near the upper 80s), with a low in the low-to-mid 70s overnight. Southeast winds around 5–10 mph. Low precipitation chance during the game (clear to partly cloudy). Ideal outdoor baseball weather at Busch Stadium.
Injury Reports
Giants
Marcelo Mayer (INF): 10-day IL (forearm)
Willy Adames (SS): 10-day IL (elbow)
Víctor Bericoto (OF): 10-day IL (knee)
J.T. Brubaker (P): 15-day IL (ribs)
Sam Hentges (P): 15-day IL (forearm)
Longer-term (mostly 60-day): Rafael Devers (abdomen; recent placement, possible season-ending), Harrison Bader, Matt Chapman, multiple pitchers (Hayden Birdsong, Randy Rodriguez, Keaton Winn, Carson Whisenhunt, etc.).
Cardinals
Everson Pereira (OF): 10-day IL (hand)
Blaze Jordan (INF): 10-day IL (ankle)
JJ Wetherholt (INF): 10-day IL (wrist)
Peter Strzelecki (RP): 15-day IL (forearm)
Hunter Dobbins (P): 15-day IL (forearm)
Longer-term: Max Rajcic (elbow, 60-day).
Both clubs are heavily depleted, especially the Giants’ pitching and infield/outfield depth.
Current Rosters / Projected Approaches
Giants: Lineup features players such as Drew Gilbert, Jung Hoo Lee, Bryce Eldridge, Jonah Cox, and others filling gaps left by injuries. Roupp has been a workhorse with a solid ERA for a rebuilding club.
Cardinals: Expect Jordan Walker (strong season with power and RBIs), Alec Burleson, Iván Herrera, Nathan Church (hot recently), Bryan Torres, and supporting pieces. Mathews is a young lefty with limited big-league experience this year.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Roupp vs. Cardinals hitters: Roupp has logged significant innings with a respectable ERA. He will need to handle Walker’s power and Burleson’s production. Favorable command profile for keeping the ball in the park.
Mathews vs. Giants hitters: The lefty has a limited sample and elevated WHIP. Giants’ lefty-friendly bats (Gilbert, Lee, Eldridge) and recent power from others could create scoring chances, especially if Mathews struggles with command.
Recent Team Forms
Giants: 2-3 in last 5; roughly 4-6 in last 10. Coming off mixed results (including recent wins against the Cardinals in San Francisco). Offense has shown power (.407 SLG ranks solidly); pitching is middling (team ERA ~4.38). Road record poor (26-49).
Cardinals: 2-3 in last 5; 4-6 in last 10. Home record 36-39. Offense produces when hitting multiple homers (strong record in those games); pitching ERA around 4.29. Recent series included losses to the Giants.
Series History
This is the fourth meeting of the 2026 season. The Giants recently swept or took a series from the Cardinals in San Francisco (including a 2-1 win featuring Roupp and a dramatic 7-6 comeback). Head-to-head has been competitive, with low-to-moderate scoring in some contests.
Betting Trends
Trends slightly favor the home Cardinals due to overall record and venue, though the Giants’ recent success against them and Roupp’s reliability keep it close.
GAME ODDS
San Francisco Giants 7.5
St. Louis Cardinals – 136
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, September 13, 2026
