Washington Nationals vs St. Louis Cardinals Picks and Predictions May 9th 2025

Momentum on the Mound

The Cardinals arrive in D.C. riding a season-high five-game winning streak after a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh, during which they surrendered just four total runs. St. Louis climbed from a 10–15 mark into a tie for second in the NL Central, fueled by consistent starting pitching and a revamped bullpen. Maintaining that consistency will be key as they face a Nationals lineup desperate to reclaim form.

Pitching Preview

Erick Fedde (2–3, 4.78 ERA) takes the hill for St. Louis fresh off a five-inning, three-run victory over the Mets. The 32-year-old righty knows Washington from his 2017–22 tenure, including a seven-scoreless-inning gem in Chicago last May. Opposing him, Mitchell Parker (3–2, 3.48 ERA) seeks redemption after allowing five runs in four innings against Cincinnati. Parker excelled in his lone 2024 outing versus St. Louis, lasting seven innings and yielding just one run.

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Offensive Outlook

St. Louis has received balanced contributions from Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt and Lars Nootbar, sparking rallies and manufacturing runs with situational hitting. The Nationals counter with Juan Soto and Harold Ramírez, though inconsistent contact and a 5.37 staff ERA have hampered their production. Whichever lineup seizes traffic with runners in scoring position will gain a crucial edge.

Strategic Notes

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol praises his team’s accountability and daily improvement mindset, while Dave Martinez for Washington must address a bullpen that yielded 17 runs in three games versus Cleveland. Defensive alignments—particularly around home plate and the corners—will determine whether baserunners turn into rallies or wasted opportunities.

Bettors’ Box

With two pitchers who induce weak contact and bullpens with contrasting recent form, consider exploring our linked MLB Best Bets for series-long value, including first-five-inning lines and key prop breakdowns.

Final Forecast

Expect a pitchers’ duel into the sixth inning before St. Louis’s depth and hot bats carry them to a sixth straight win.