Washington Nationals vs St. Louis Cardinals Prediction, 4/12/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Washington Nationals vs St. Louis Cardinals

Date: Monday, April 12, 2021

Location: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO

TV: Bally Sports Midwest

Odds/Point Spread: Washington (+102) St. Louis (-112)

Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals (1-3, 4th in NL East) travel to Busch Stadium on Monday where they'll meet the St. Louis Cardinals (5-2, 2nd in NL Central). The Cardinals open this game at -112 while the Nationals are coming in at +102. The total is set at 8.5. The men taking the mound will be Stephen Strasburg and John Gant.

Washington has a slugging percentage of .350 and have been called out on strikes 35 times, while being walked on 12 occasions. They have accounted for 12 RBI's in addition to 29 base knocks so far this season, and their average at the plate is sitting at .248. The Nationals have compiled 6 two-baggers as a unit and have knocked 2 balls out of the park. They are sitting with 12 runs and hold an OBP of .326. As a squad, the Washington Nationals are putting up 3.0 runs per outing, which puts them at 27th in MLB.

Nationals pitchers have conceded 6 long balls in addition to 15 total runs (30th in MLB). They have walked 11 opposing hitters and their FIP is 4.49 as a squad this year. They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 3.18 and the pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.10. The Nationals have compiled a team ERA of 4.06 for the year (18th in MLB), and the staff has struck out 35 hitters.

The Nationals bullpen pitchers have inherited 3 runners so far this year. Nationals relief pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on 2 times as well as having 4 appearances in high leverage situations. The Nationals have sent 13 relievers to the mound on the campaign. 

Strasburg has taken the hill for 1,449 innings and has accounted for 1,705 K's during his pro baseball career. His earned run average is 3.18 (512 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.086. He has given up 1,194 base hits (7.4 hits per 9 innings) and has had 380 free passes. Strasburg (112-59 win-loss mark in his career) sits with a FIP of 2.96 while going up against 5,865 batters during his time in the majors.

The St. Louis Cardinals have compiled an OBP of .287 in addition to a team batting average of .202 for the season. They have been called out on strikes on 76 occasions (8th in the league) and have earned a total of 46 base hits. St. Louis has hit 10 long balls this season to go along with 31 runs batted in. The Cardinals have a SLG% of .368 and they score 5.14 runs per contest (10th in baseball). They have recorded 6 two-baggers, while getting a free base 24 times as well as earning 36 runs.

The St. Louis pitching staff have conceded 31 runs this year while holding a team ERA of 4.43 (30 earned runs allowed). They have surrendered 6 home runs and they surrender 4.57 runs per 9 innings (17th in baseball). The Cardinals have a team WHIP of 1.295 and have a FIP of 4.35 as a pitching staff on the campaign. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.04 (57 strikeouts against 28 bases on balls). They are sitting at 17th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits surrendered with 51.

Sitting with 9 save situations, the Cardinals have accrued 6 holds in addition to 0 blown saves. St. Louis has called on relievers to enter the game in 3 save chances and they have come away with 3 saves. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 9 times in high leverage situations in addition to 5 occasions with runners on. St. Louis relief pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 25.0% of 8 inherited runners. They are currently ranked 6th in the league with a save rate of 100.0%, and they have sent 27 relievers onto the field this season.

Thus far in his career, Gant has given up 226 base knocks while totaling 237 strikeouts in 266 innings pitched. He has conceded 111 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.343 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.1. He has a K/BB ratio of 1.80 and he has gone up against 1,134 opposing batters in his pro baseball career. Gant (19-15 career win-loss mark) is the owner of a 3.75 ERA while conceding 7.6 hits per nine innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Washington (+102)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here