- The Nationals are -105 favorites vs the Cardinals
- Nationals vs Cardinals Over / Under today: 7.5 Runs
- Nationals / Cardinals TV Channel: CATV | NATV
The Washington Nationals (-105) visit Busch Stadium to take on the St. Louis Cardinals (-115) on September 18, 2026. First pitch is scheduled for 8:15 pm in St. Louis, MO.
This season, the Nationals are 71-82 against the spread (ATS), while the Cardinals are 83-67 ATS.
Nationals vs Cardinals Starting Pitchers Today:
- Nationals starting pitcher: Cade Cavalli 12-5, 3.12 ERA
- Cardinals starting pitcher: Kyle Leahy 10-4, 3.35 ERA
Nationals vs. Cardinals Odds, Run Line, Over/Under & Moneyline
| Spread | Over / Under | Moneyline | |
| Nationals | -1.5 +155 | O 7.5 -102 | -105 |
| Cardinals | +1.5 -190 | U 7.5 -118 | -115 |
Nationals vs Cardinals Prediction for Today’s Game
Based on recent trends the model predicts the Cardinals will win Friday‘s MLB game with 51.0% confidence, factoring in game simulations, recent player performances, starting pitchers and injuries.
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We’ve highlighted some favorite MLB player prop bets for Nationals players for Friday‘s game, looking at profitable historical betting trends:
Best Nationals Player Prop Bets Today:
- Keibert Ruiz has hit the Home Runs Over in 2 of his last 5 away games (+15.00 Units / 300% ROI)
- Keibert Ruiz has hit the Hits Runs and RBIs Over in 18 of his last 25 away games (+11.50 Units / 41% ROI)
- Cade Cavalli has hit the Pitching Outs Over in 13 of his last 15 games (+10.60 Units / 57% ROI)
- CJ Abrams has hit the Hits Under in 15 of his last 25 games (+9.25 Units / 29% ROI)
- James Wood has hit the Total Bases Under in 18 of his last 25 games (+9.00 Units / 26% ROI)
And here are some favorite MLB player prop bets for Cardinals players for Friday‘s game, looking at profitable historical betting trends:
Best Cardinals Player Prop Best Bets Today:
- Nathan Church has hit the Hits Over in 21 of his last 25 games (+14.55 Units / 34% ROI)
- Nathan Church has hit the Singles Over in 19 of his last 25 games (+13.95 Units / 53% ROI)
- JJ Wetherholt has hit the Total Bases Under in 20 of his last 25 games at home (+12.40 Units / 28% ROI)
- Kyle Leahy has hit the Earned Runs Under in 13 of his last 15 games (+11.30 Units / 56% ROI)
- Kyle Leahy has hit the Walks Allowed Under in 15 of his last 20 games (+10.65 Units / 39% ROI)
Nationals Best Bets Today:
- The Washington Nationals have hit the Team Total Under in 15 of their last 23 away games (+5.90 Units / 21% ROI)
- The Washington Nationals have hit the Game Total Over in 11 of their last 17 games (+5.55 Units / 30% ROI)
- The Washington Nationals have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Under in 14 of their last 22 away games (+4.35 Units / 16% ROI)
- The Washington Nationals have hit the Moneyline in 4 of their last 5 games (+3.85 Units / 62% ROI)
- The Washington Nationals have covered the 1st Five Innings (F5) Run Line in 11 of their last 18 games (+3.15 Units / 15% ROI)
Cardinals Best Bets Today:
- The St. Louis Cardinals have hit the Game Total Over in 22 of their last 30 games (+14.25 Units / 43% ROI)
- The St. Louis Cardinals have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Moneyline in 24 of their last 45 games (+10.40 Units / 19% ROI)
- The St. Louis Cardinals have hit the Team Total Over in 23 of their last 35 games (+8.85 Units / 21% ROI)
- The St. Louis Cardinals have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Over in 23 of their last 40 games (+6.45 Units / 14% ROI)
- The St. Louis Cardinals have covered the 1st Five Innings (F5) Run Line in 27 of their last 45 games (+6.35 Units / 12% ROI)
Nationals Against the Spread (ATS) Record
Against the spread this season, the Nationals are 85-66 against the Run Line (+6.4 Units / 3.12% ROI).
- 71-82 when betting on the Moneyline for -0.4 Units / -0.24% ROI
- 80-65 when betting on the total runs Over for +9.2 Units / 5.47% ROI
- 65-80 when betting on the total runs Under for -22.65 Units / -13.45% ROI
Cardinals Against the Spread (ATS) Record
Against the spread this season, the Cardinals are 83-67 against the Run Line (+1.35 Units / 0.64% ROI).
- 75-78 when betting on the Moneyline for +2.3 Units / 1.37% ROI
- 71-75 when betting on the total runs Over for -12.05 Units / -7.13% ROI
- 75-71 when betting on the total runs Under for -3.15 Units / -1.88% ROI
Nationals Keys to the Game vs. the Cardinals
The Nationals are just 35-26 (.574) when they’ve hit 2 or more home runs this season — 3rd lowest in MLB.
The Nationals are just 1-71 (.014) when trailing entering the 9th inning this season — tied for lowest in MLB.
The Nationals are just 60-14 (.811) when leading entering the 8th inning this season — 3rd lowest in MLB.
The Nationals are just 56-19 (.747) when leading entering the 7th inning this season — lowest in MLB.
Cardinals Keys to the Game vs. the Nationals
The Cardinals are just 6-14 (.300) when tied entering the 8th inning this season — 3rd lowest in MLB.
The Cardinals are just 28-17 (.622) when they’ve had 10 or more hits this season — 2nd lowest in MLB.
The Cardinals are just 37-41 (.474) at home this season — tied for 5th lowest in MLB.
The Cardinals were 69-1 (.986) when leading entering the 9th inning in the 2024 season — tied for 2nd best in MLB; League Avg: .949.
Nationals Hitting Stats & Trends
Nationals hitters have an OPS of .548 (3,069 PA’s) with two-strikes this season — 2nd best in MLB.
The Nationals are batting .261 against LHP this season — 4th best in MLB.
Nationals hitters are slugging .248 on pitches out of the zone this season — 2nd best in MLB.
Nationals hitters are slugging .439 against LHP this season — 2nd best in MLB.
Cardinals Hitting Stats & Trends
Cardinals hitters have struck out in just 19% of their PA’s against LHP this season — 3rd best in MLB.
Cardinals hitters are slugging just .357 at home this season — 2nd lowest in MLB.
Cardinals hitters are slugging just .500 with the pitcher behind in the count this season — lowest in MLB.
Cardinals hitters have a Hard-Hit Rate of 48% on the first pitch of at-bats this season — best in MLB.
Nationals Pitching Stats & Trends
Nationals pitchers have an ERA of 5.03 (711.0 IP) at home this season — 3rd highest in MLB.
Opponents have a miss rate of just 23% against Nationals pitchers this season — tied for 3rd lowest in MLB.
The Nationals have allowed 1.87 runs per game (286/153) in late innings this season — highest in MLB.
The Nationals have allowed 5.51 runs per game (430/78) at home this season — 3rd highest in MLB.
Cardinals Pitching Stats & Trends
Opponents have a groundball rate of 45% against Cardinals pitchers this season — 4th highest in MLB.
The Cardinals pitchers have allowed their opponents to score first in just 36% of their games on the road this season — lowest in MLB.
The Cardinals pitchers have allowed an average Exit Velocity of 89.4 MPH this season (3,983 balls in play) — 3rd highest in MLB
Cardinals pitchers have allowed an average Exit Velocity of 89.4 MPH (3,983 batted balls) this season — 3rd highest in MLB.
More MLB Reading:
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