Nationals vs Cardinals predictions
Nationals fans can’t help but wonder if tonight might be the spark the team needs. With MacKenzie Gore taking the mound, there’s always a real shot at shutting things down early—he’s got swing-and-miss stuff and a knack for racking up strikeouts, so don’t be surprised if he sits down at least half a dozen Cards before handing things over to the bullpen. At the plate, CJ Abrams has been the heartbeat of the lineup all year, and with his reliable bat, you can pencil him in for a multi-hit night and maybe even a stolen base. James Wood is the guy to watch for some pop; if he gets his pitch, there’s always a chance he’ll sneak one over the wall. And keep an eye on Luis Garcia—he’s a sneaky hitter who could drive in a run or two when it counts.
Flipping over to the Cardinals’ dugout, Brendan Donovan has been one of the most consistent bats lately, and he looks primed to put together another solid outing, likely chipping in with a couple of hits and maybe a run scored. Willson Contreras brings energy and clutch power—he’s always a threat to go deep and rack up RBIs, especially with runners on base. Nolan Arenado’s glove always steals the show, but don’t sleep on his bat—this could be the kind of matchup where he quietly collects a couple of hits and sparks a rally in the middle innings. Andre Pallante is getting the start for St. Louis and with his ability to keep hitters off balance, there’s a good chance he goes at least five strong innings with a handful of strikeouts.
So looking at both lineups and the way these teams have been trending, the St. Louis Cardinals feel like the safer pick to keep riding their momentum at Busch Stadium. Their bats have just a bit more pop throughout the lineup, and when Pallante’s on, the Cards usually find a way to stack up runs before the bullpen takes over. The Nationals have some fight and youthful upside, but with St. Louis already controlling the season series, expect the Cardinals to keep that edge—especially in front of the home crowd. But hey, that’s baseball; anything can happen if the Nats’ top guys get hot early!
