Venue: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
First pitch: 7:15 p.m. ET
TV: Nationals.TV / Cardinals.TV (regional)This is the second game of a three-game series.
The Nationals dominated Friday’s opener 9-1 behind CJ Abrams (who joined the 30-30 club with his 30th steal), Dylan Crews’ homer, and strong pitching from Cade Cavalli. The loss mathematically eliminated the Cardinals from postseason contention.
Starting Pitchers
Andrew Alvarez (LHP, Nationals): 2-6, 3.35 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 99 K in ~102 IP. Left-hander with solid strikeout ability and a relatively low ERA despite the record; limited experience but has shown effectiveness in spots.
Michael McGreevy (RHP, Cardinals): 7-9, 3.83 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 112 K in 160 IP. More innings logged with average command; has been a reliable mid-rotation option for St. Louis this season.
Alvarez holds a slight edge in ERA; McGreevy brings greater workload experience. Busch Stadium generally plays neutral.
Current Weather Forecast
Hot and mostly sunny to partly cloudy conditions expected. High near 96–98°F during the day with heat index values potentially reaching the low 100s; evening temperatures cooling into the mid-to-upper 70s by first pitch. Light winds (5–10 mph from the southwest/south). Slight chance of isolated showers or thunderstorms later in the evening (low probability during game hours). No major precipitation expected to impact play.
Injury Reports
Nationals: Several pitchers on the IL including DJ Herz (elbow, 60-day), Mitchell Parker, Connelly Early, Matt Waldron, and others. Position players relatively healthy, with CJ Abrams and James Wood active and productive.
Cardinals: Joshua Báez (side/oblique, 10-day), Everson Pereira (hand), Blaze Jordan (ankle), Max Rajcic (elbow, 60-day), and additional bullpen/rotation depth pieces sidelined. Core lineup (Burleson, Walker, etc.) largely available.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups & Lineup Notes
Nationals feature a dynamic top of the order with speed and power: CJ Abrams (30 HR / 30 SB), James Wood, Dylan Crews, Brady House, and Daylen Lile. Abrams’ recent milestone and multi-tool impact make him a focal point against McGreevy.
Cardinals rely on Alec Burleson (strong RBI totals), Jordan Walker (power), and supporting pieces like Masyn Winn (when healthy). The lefty Alvarez could create platoon advantages for some St. Louis right-handed bats, while the Nats’ speed (league-high stolen bases range) tests Cardinals’ defense and catchers.
Both teams rank mid-to-lower in pitching staff ERA, so offense could decide a potentially higher-scoring contest at Busch.
Recent Team Forms
Nationals: 5-5 in their last 10. Coming off a decisive road win and showing late-season fight with young talent contributing (Abrams, Crews, Wood). Road record sits at 35-41.
Cardinals: 3-7 in their last 10 and on a three-game skid. Mathematically eliminated Friday; home record 37-42. Offense has been inconsistent lately.
Series History
The 2026 season series is competitive (tied or close entering this game after Friday’s Nats win). Earlier meetings in April were split. Historically, these clubs have mixed results in interleague/NL play; the 2019 NLCS matchup still lingers in rivalry lore, though both teams are far from contention this year.
Betting Trends
Nationals have shown value as underdogs recently and covered in Friday’s blowout. Cardinals have struggled to cover at home during their skid. Totals have gone over frequently in recent Nats games.
Game Odds
Washington Nationals 8.5
St. Louis Cardinals – 123
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, September 18, 2026
