Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
First Pitch: 7:45 PM ET
Broadcast: FDSMW, SDPA, MLB.tv
Game Overview
The San Diego Padres (55–47) travel to face the St. Louis Cardinals (52–51) in a crucial National League matchup with postseason implications. Both teams are in the thick of the Wild Card race, and this series opener kicks off a four-game set that could shift momentum heading into August.
The Padres have won 6 of their last 10 games and are trending upward, while the Cardinals have dropped 7 of their last 10 and are looking to rebound at home.
Starting Pitchers
| Team | Pitcher | Record | ERA | WHIP | K/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Padres | Yu Darvish | 0–2 | 6.08 | 1.54 | 5.4 |
| Cardinals | Sonny Gray | 9–4 | 4.04 | 1.15 | 9.9 |
Darvish is still finding his rhythm after returning from injury, while Gray looks to bounce back from a rough outing against Arizona where he allowed 8 earned runs in just 3.1 innings.
Key Players to Watch
San Diego Padres
- Manny Machado – Batting .285 with 18 HR and 61 RBI; leads the team in both categories.
- Fernando Tatis Jr. – Slashing .262 with 16 HR, 14 doubles, and 55 walks; dynamic on both sides of the ball.
- Luis Arraez – Team-high .285 average; consistent contact hitter and table-setter.
St. Louis Cardinals
- Willson Contreras – Power bat with 13 HR and 57 RBI; riding a four-game hit streak.
- Brendan Donovan – Team-best .292 average; ranks 12th in MLB in batting average.
- Alec Burleson – Hitting .290 with 12 HR and 17 doubles; emerging as a reliable run producer.
Team Comparison
| Category | Padres | Cardinals |
|---|---|---|
| Batting Avg | .245 | .252 |
| Home Runs | 86 | 100 |
| Runs/Game | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| ERA | 3.94 | 4.04 |
| OBP | .314 | .321 |
| Slugging % | .374 | .393 |
St. Louis has the edge in offensive production, but San Diego’s pitching staff has been more consistent over the last 10 games.
- Cardinals are 13–7 when favored by -136 or more.
- Padres are 16–17 as underdogs of +115 or longer.
- Prediction: Cardinals 5 – Padres 4 (Under 8.5 runs)
Game Odds
San Diego Padres – 136
St. Louis Cardinals 8.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Wednesday, July 23, 2025
