Washington Nationals vs St. Louis Cardinals Prediction, 9/19/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Washington Nationals vs St. Louis Cardinals

Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026

Location: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO

TV: Cardinals.TV

Odds/Point Spread: Washington (+125) St. Louis (-150)

Busch Stadium is where the St. Louis Cardinals (75-78) will try to defeat the Washington Nationals (71-82) on Saturday. The odds on this game have Washington at +125 and St. Louis is coming in at -150. The total is 8.5. The pitchers taking the mound are Andrew Alvarez and Michael McGreevy.

The Nationals have earned 270 two-baggers as a team and have smacked 200 balls out of the stadium. Washington is slugging .426 and have been called out on strikes 1,281 times, while taking a walk on 528 occasions. As a team, the Washington Nationals are recording 5.1 runs/g, which is 3rd in MLB. They have 737 runs batted in in addition to 1,289 base knocks this season, while their batting average is sitting at .247. They have notched a total of 778 runs while having a team on-base percentage of .323.

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Their K/BB ratio is 2.09 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.39. Nationals pitchers have relinquished 204 long balls and 775 runs in total (27th in MLB). Washington has allowed 1,312 hits (8.7 per 9 innings) and 710 earned runs. The Nationals have a team ERA of 4.71 this season (27th in baseball), and their staff has struck out 1,197 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 572 opposing batters and their FIP comes in at 4.72 as a unit so far this season.

Nationals pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 160 times and also have had 161 appearances in high leverage situations. The bullpen have 72 holds on the season (25th in baseball). The Nationals bullpen have compiled a save rate of 48.7% and have stepped onto the mound in 154 save situations. They have compiled 37 saves so far this season and have blown 39 of 76 chances to get a save. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 251 base runners over the course of the season with 40.6% of them ended up crossing the plate. The Nationals have sent 482 relief pitchers to the hill so far this season.

The Nationals have converted 69.7% of balls in play into outs in their 12,204 innings, which has them sitting 15th in pro baseball. The Washington Nationals have accumulated 4,068 putouts at this point in the season, as well as 1,381 assists and 98 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .982 which has them ranked 29th in professional baseball, and have 128 double plays.

Alvarez has pitched in 125 innings and is sitting with 119 strikeouts thus far in his career. His earned run average is 3.17 (44 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.247. He has allowed 99 hits (7.1 hits per nine innings) and has had 57 free passes. Alvarez (3-7 career win-loss record) sits with a FIP of 3.12 while going up against 525 batters in the major leagues.

The St. Louis Cardinals have tallied a team OBP of .316 in addition to a batting average of .242 so far this year. They have been rung up on 1,204 occasions (25th in baseball) and have recorded 1,250 base hits. St. Louis has a total of 158 long balls on the year as well as 671 RBIs. The Cardinals have a team slugging percentage of .382 and they are earning 4.53 runs per outing (12th in MLB). They have put up 221 two-baggers, while taking a walk 491 times and putting up 693 runs.

The Cardinals are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.357 in addition to having a FIP of 4.09 as a pitching staff on the campaign. Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 8.00 (1,216 strikeouts against 532 free passes). They have a ranking of 25th in MLB as a staff in total hits relinquished with 1,319. They have conceded 152 homers and they allow 4.66 runs per 9 innings (21st in MLB). The St. Louis pitching staff have yielded 707 runs for the season while holding a team ERA of 4.28 (649 earned runs surrendered).

St. Louis relief pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 40.8% of 233 inherited runners. Their bullpen pitchers have come in 192 times in high leverage situations and on 158 occasions with runners on base. With 175 save situations, the Cardinals have accumulated 96 holds and 30 blown saves. They are ranked 20th in baseball holding a save rate of 60.0%, and they have sent 521 relievers onto the field this year.

Out of their 12,282 innings played, the Cardinals have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 68.9% (26th in baseball). The St. Louis Cardinals have turned 148 double plays and have a fielding rate of .988 (6th in professional baseball). The Cardinals have recorded 1,428 assists, 68 errors and are sitting with 4,094 putouts this season.

So far in his career, McGreevy has conceded 270 base knocks while he has accumulated 188 K's in 278 innings. McGreevy (18-13 career mark) is the owner of a 3.88 earned run average and has conceded 8.7 hits per nine innings. He has allowed 120 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.211 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.8. His strikeout to walk ratio is 2.81 and he has gone up against 1,144 opposing batters during his pro baseball career.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take St. Louis (-150)

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