The red-hot St. Louis Cardinals will go for their ninth straight victory when they play host to the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium. This NL showdown will begin at 7:15 p.m. ET and fans can tune in to Mid-Atlantic Sports Network to catch the game.
Washington Nationals at St. Louis Cardinals Odds
Washington (+120) is entering this game as the underdog to St. Louis (-130) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this game at 8.5 runs (-120 for the over and +100 for the under). The game’s current runline odds sit at -175 for picking the Nationals +1.5 runs and +155 for the Cardinals -1.5.
The Nationals have gone 60-61 SU this year and are 58-62 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 22.1 units for moneyline bettors and 5.8 units ATS. Washington has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Cardinals, on the other hand, are 66-55 SU and 60-60 ATS. The team has lost 1.6 units for moneyline bettors and 2.9 units ATS. St. Louis has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
St. Louis games have had an over/under record of 57-58-5 in 2018. The Nationals have been a strong under bet with a total record of 50-67-3.
The right-handed Tanner Roark is getting the start for Washington. Roark is 7-12 with a 4.12 ERA and 125 strikeouts. He has yet to face St. Louis this year, but he made two starts against the team in 2017, posting a 1-1 record with a 6.75 ERA and five strikeouts.
The Cardinals will send righty Luke Weaver (6-10, 4.66 ERA) to the mound. Weaver has 111 strikeouts and 43 walks to his credit, as well as a WHIP of 1.40. Weaver did not record a start against the Nationals in 2017.
St. Louis’ pitching staff has given up 4.1 runs per game overall this season as a unit. The team’s starting pitching staff has a 3.44 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.31 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 8.2 K/9.
The St. Louis hitters have produced 4.6 runs per outing, including 5.3 per game over its last 10 games and 6.6 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .318/.392/.538 over its last five matchups and is 5-0 SU during that span.
The Cardinals’ batters have been led by left fielder Marcell Ozuna and first baseman Jose Martinez. Ozuna is slashing .273/.315/.400 with 14 home runs, 64 RBIs and 49 runs scored, while Martinez is batting .305 with 14 homers, 69 RBIs and 41 runs.
In the other dugout, Washington’s pitchers have allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starters own a 3.89 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 8.99 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.84, along with a K-per-9 of 8.57.
The Nationals offense has slashed .250/.330/.414 on its way to 4.6 runs scored per game this season, including 4.4 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Shortstop Trea Turner and third baseman Anthony Rendon have led Washington’s hitters. The speedy Turner is slashing .268/.338/.411 with 14 home runs, 49 RBIs, 73 runs and 32 steals. Rendon is slashing .293/.352/.507 with 16 homers, 58 RBIs and 56 runs scored.
The Nationals have lost 6.8 units and are 45-42 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 35 of those games, as opposed to 50 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Cardinals have lost 3.2 units and are 42-43 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 36 of those games, compared to 44 which went under the total.
Washington Nationals at St. Louis Cardinals Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Cardinals, ATS Winner – Nationals, O/U – OVER
