Matchup: Washington Nationals (37–53) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (48–43)
Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Time: 7:45 PM ET
Venue: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
Broadcast: MASN2, Bally Sports Midwest, MLB.TV
Streaming: FuboTV, MLB.TV (regional restrictions apply)
Game Overview
The St. Louis Cardinals return home looking to rebound from a rough stretch, having lost five of their last six games, including a lopsided 11–0 defeat to the Cubs. They’ll host the Washington Nationals, who are also reeling after being swept by the Red Sox and undergoing a major front-office shake-up. Interim manager Miguel Cairo takes over the Nationals’ dugout for the first time following the dismissal of Dave Martinez and GM Mike Rizzo.
This is the fourth meeting of the season between the two clubs, with the Cardinals leading the season series 2–1.
Starting Pitchers
| Team | Pitcher | Record | ERA | WHIP | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationals | Jake Irvin (RHP) | 7–3 | 4.71 | 1.29 | 75 |
| Cardinals | Sonny Gray (RHP) | 8–3 | 3.51 | 1.08 | 107 |
- Irvin is coming off a solid bounce-back outing (6 IP, 3 ER vs. Detroit) after a disastrous start against the Angels. He’s allowed 20 home runs in 18 starts.
- Gray has been the Cardinals’ ace, recently throwing a complete-game one-hit shutout against Cleveland. He’s 13–4 in 17 starts this season.
Key Players to Watch
Washington Nationals
- James Wood: .288 AVG, 23 HR, 67 RBI – Ranks 7th in MLB in both HR and RBI
- CJ Abrams: .285 AVG, 12 HR, 18 doubles – Dynamic leadoff threat
- Luis García Jr.: .265 AVG, 7 HR, 19 doubles – Strong contact hitter with gap power
St. Louis Cardinals
- Brendan Donovan: .296 AVG, 7 HR, 32 RBI – 5-game hitting streak, .316 over last 5 games
- Alec Burleson: 11 HR – Hitting .308 with an .847 OPS vs. righties, great matchup vs. Irvin
- Masyn Winn: 9-for-39 over last 10 games – Speed and defense up the middle
Team Stats & Trends
| Category | Nationals | Cardinals |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 37–53 (5th NL East) | 48–43 (3rd NL Central) |
| Last 10 Games | 4–6 | 4–6 |
| Team ERA | 4.91 | 4.12 |
| Batting Avg | .247 (14th in MLB) | .251 (12th in MLB) |
| Home Runs | 87 (21st) | 91 (19th) |
| Bullpen ERA | 5.79 (30th) | 3.89 (13th) |
- The Nationals have been outscored 27–9 in their last three games.
- The Cardinals are 26–17 at home and have a 64.3% implied win probability tonight.
Game Odds
Washington Nationals 8.5
St. Louis Cardinals – 192
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Monday, July 7, 2025
