First pitch is scheduled for 2:15 PM EDT
Venue: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
TV/Streaming: Mariners.TV, Cardinals.TV / MLB.TV
Series Context: Rubber match of a three-game interleague series (Mariners lead 2-0 after 3-2 and 11-9 victories; Seattle looking to complete the sweep on the road).
Team Records and Recent Form
Seattle Mariners (13-15 overall, 3-8 on the road): The Mariners sit near the bottom of the AL West but have shown road fight in this series, winning the first two games convincingly. They are 3-2 in their last 5 overall, with timely offense (~4.5 runs/game recently) and a strong bullpen. Starting pitching has stabilized, though road woes persist outside this matchup.
St. Louis Cardinals (14-12 overall, 7-7 at home): The Cardinals are competitive in the NL Central but have dropped the first two at home in this series. They are 2-3 in their last 5 overall, with streaky offense (~4.2 runs/game) and bullpen fatigue in high-scoring affairs. Home motivation is high to avoid a sweep.
Probable Pitchers and Player Matchups
Mariners Starter: Emerson Hancock (RHP, 2-1, 2.83 ERA) — Hancock has been efficient with low hard-contact rates and solid command early. He’ll look to navigate a righty-heavy Cardinals lineup missing key depth.
Cardinals Starter: Michael McGreevy (RHP, 1-2, 3.29 ERA) — McGreevy offers strikeout upside but has allowed traffic on the bases. He’ll need to limit extra-base hits against Seattle’s opportunistic road attack.
Key Player Matchups
Cardinals: Willson Contreras (C/DH), Nolan Arenado (3B), and remaining power/speed threats — Contreras provides consistency, but the depleted lineup (no Nootbaar) limits options against Hancock’s profile.
Mariners: Julio Rodríguez (CF), Cole Young (recent hot bat), and contributors like J.P. Crawford or Cal Raleigh — Rodríguez’s power/speed and Young’s contact could exploit McGreevy’s elevated ERA. Road platoon edges favor Seattle’s athletic core.
Injury Report
Mariners: Patrick Wisdom (1B, 10-day IL), Victor Robles (RF, 10-day IL), Brendan Donovan (2B, 10-day IL), Bryce Miller (SP, 15-day IL — expected return ~May 22), Teddy McGraw (SP, out until ~May 1). Rotation and outfield depth tested but position players largely available for today.
Cardinals: Pedro Pagés (C, day-to-day — hamstring; removed from Saturday’s game), Lars Nootbaar (LF, 60-day IL — heels), Matt Pushard (RP, 15-day IL — knee), Hunter Dobbins (SP, 15-day IL — knee). Catcher and outfield depth concerns; bullpen thinned.
Series History
Interleague play is relatively even all-time (Mariners hold a slight 14-13 edge). Seattle has dominated recent matchups (winning 6 of the last 7 entering 2026) and leads this series 2-0 with high-variance scoring (including 8 HRs in Game 2). Busch Stadium has played neutral early season, with totals trending over in recent head-to-heads.
Weather Updates
Gametime forecast at Busch Stadium: ~78°F, mostly clear to partly cloudy, winds ~10 mph (light, variable), 1% chance of precipitation. Ideal early-season conditions with no impact expected on fly balls, base-running, or play. Comfortable for fans and no delays anticipated.
Betting Trends
Mariners strong ATS in recent road spots and 3-2 in last 5; Cardinals 7-7 at home but vulnerable after two straight losses. Series games have gone over due to offensive bursts. Mariners have covered as favorites; totals lean over in 5 of last 7 interleague meetings.
Game Odds
Seattle Mariners – 136
St. Louis Cardinals 8.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, April 25, 2026
