Oakland Athletics vs. St. Louis Cardinals Picks and Predictions September 1st 2025

Athletics vs Cardinals Picks and Predictions — September 1, 2025

The Oakland Athletics travel to Busch Stadium to face the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a three-game set on Monday afternoon. Oakland (63-75) enters on a three-game skid after being swept by Texas, while St. Louis (68-70) is looking to stay alive in the NL wild-card race despite a rash of injuries.

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First pitch is set for 2:15 p.m. ET with rookie Luis Morales starting for Oakland against veteran Sonny Gray of St. Louis. Oddsmakers list the Cardinals as -141 favorites, with the Athletics at +119 and the total at 8 runs. For form updates and late-season results, see the latest MLB game results.

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Athletics Can Win If…

Luis Morales keeps rolling. The 22-year-old rookie has been electric, going 2-0 with a 1.19 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. He blanked Detroit over seven innings in his last start and has allowed just one run over his last 13 innings.

“This kid continues to impress … he’s relentless on perfecting his mechanics,” manager Mark Kotsay said.

Oakland’s lineup has shown flashes of power, ranking 3rd in slugging percentage (.431). Shea Langeliers (29 HR) and Brent Rooker (27 HR) give the A’s middle-order pop, while Jacob Wilson and Lawrence Butler continue to chip in offensively. If Morales dominates again, Oakland can steal this opener.

Cardinals Can Win If…

Sonny Gray delivers quality innings and the young lineup supports him. Gray (12-7, 4.19 ERA) has pitched well lately, posting a 3.48 ERA across five August starts. He struck out seven in his last outing, a tough-luck 2-1 loss to Pittsburgh.

“Good to see him hit the homer … he stayed on that pitch,” manager Oliver Marmol said of rookie catcher Jimmy Crooks’ first MLB home run.

The Cardinals are leaning on youth, with Thomas Saggese, Cesar Prieto, Nathan Church, and Crooks seeing extended time. Willson Contreras (20 HR) remains a key veteran bat, while Lars Nootbaar provides energy. If Gray neutralizes Oakland’s power, the Cards’ offense has enough to back him at home.

Key MLB Betting Trends

The Lean

Pick: Cardinals -141
Projected Final Score: Cardinals 5, Athletics 4
Total Lean: Over 8

Morales has been brilliant, but Busch Stadium is a tough test against a lineup that grinds out at-bats. Gray’s experience and St. Louis’ home-field edge make the Cardinals the better play. Expect both teams to put runs on the board, making the Over the value side.

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