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St. Louis Cardinals vs San Diego Padres July 24th 2025
The San Diego Padres will play against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Thursday, July 24, 2025. The game is set to start at 7:45 PM and will be broadcast on SDPA. The weather forecast predicts a very hot night with a calm crosswind and few clouds.
The Padres, managed by Mike Schildt, have a season record of 55-47. They are currently 4 games behind in the NL West. On the other hand, the Cardinals, led by Oliver Marmol, hold a 52-51 record and are 9 games behind in the NL Central. The Padres’ starting pitcher will be Yu Darvish, while Sonny Gray will take the mound for the Cardinals.
Padres vs Cardinals Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: San Diego Padres vs. St. Louis Cardinals
- Venue: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO
- Date: Thursday, July 24, 2025
- Betting Odds: Padres Moneyline +114, Cardinals Moneyline -134, Padres Runline +1.5 (-186), Cardinals Runline -1.5 (+154), Total Over 8.0 (-117), Total Under 8.0 (-102)
The Padres Can Win If…
The San Diego Padres are coming off a narrow 3-2 loss against the Miami Marlins. Dylan Cease pitched five innings, allowing four hits and three runs. Manny Machado led the offense with two hits and an RBI, while Jackson Merrill added a double and scored a run.
The Padres have shown solid pitching this season, ranking 6th in ERA at 3.60 and 3rd in batting average against at .230. Their ability to keep opponents’ scoring low gives them a chance to win games. With a lineup featuring Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., they have the potential to put runs on the board.
Looking at the Padres’ lineup, Manny Machado is a key player, hitting .285 with 18 home runs and 61 RBIs. Luis Arraez and Xander Bogaerts also contribute with batting averages of .285 and .268, respectively. If their top hitters perform well, the Padres can secure a win against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Cardinals Can Win If…
The St. Louis Cardinals are looking to bounce back after a 0-6 loss to the Colorado Rockies. In their recent game, the Cardinals managed five hits, with Jordan Walker and Willson Contreras each hitting a double. Despite the loss, Sonny Gray is set to start the next game, and he has a solid record of 9-4 with a 4.04 ERA.
The Cardinals’ offense has been strong this season. They rank 7th in batting average at .252 and 3rd in doubles with 182. With players like Alec Burleson and Brendan Donovan hitting well, the team can put up runs against the Padres.
Sonny Gray’s performance on the mound will be key. He has a WHIP of 1.15, showing he can limit base runners. Combined with the Cardinals’ ability to hit doubles, they have the tools to secure a win against the Padres.
The Lean
The Cardinals are favored with a moneyline of -134, while the Padres are at +114. The Cardinals have a stronger batting average and on-base percentage compared to the Padres. Given their better pitching and hitting stats, the Cardinals are the recommended pick to win the game. The model projects a score of Cardinals 5, Padres 3.
The total for the game is set at 8.0 runs. The Cardinals’ pitching has a solid earned run average, and the Padres have struggled with slugging. This suggests a lower-scoring game. The model projects a total of 8 runs, so the recommendation is to take the under at 8.0 (-102).
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Padres, Cardinals Look to Bounce Back as Four-Game Set Opens
The San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals are both looking to regroup after rough road trips as they begin a crucial four-game series Thursday night at Busch Stadium.
Want the best angles for this matchup? Get today’s sharpest MLB expert picks before first pitch.
Padres Seeking Spark on Offense
San Diego enters this series still holding the third NL wild-card spot, but they’re far from comfortable. After losing two of three to the Marlins, the Padres continue to struggle offensively, scoring just seven runs in the series.
“We’re playing a lot of games where we don’t have a lot of margin for error,” manager Mike Shildt said. “We play a lot of clean games, and (Wednesday), we gave away a little too much that cost us.”
The Padres rank 25th in MLB in runs scored, and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller is reportedly exploring offensive upgrades ahead of the trade deadline. But Manny Machado knows the current roster has to step up regardless.
“We’ve got to put ourselves in good position regardless of what happens at the deadline,” Machado said. “We want to make a postseason run… We’ve just got to go out there and play better baseball than we did these last few days.”
Machado’s defense hurt the team in Miami, as he committed throwing errors in both losses.
“It came down to some stupid errors I made that allowed some dumb runs,” Machado admitted. “Would’ve been a different story if I played a little better defense. When you’re playing games like this, it comes down to defense. That’s why we lost.”
The Padres will send Yu Darvish to the mound. Since returning from an elbow injury, Darvish has struggled to an 0-2 record and 6.08 ERA in three starts. He has a 2-4 career record with a 3.20 ERA in nine starts against St. Louis.
Looking for a betting edge on Darvish? Check out our MLB Picks and Predictions for trends and analysis.
Cardinals Mired in Post-Break Slump
St. Louis hasn’t fared much better after the All-Star break, stumbling to a 1-5 record with series losses to both Arizona and Colorado. Over their five defeats, the Cardinals have been outscored 36-11, and Wednesday’s 6-0 shutout loss to the Rockies was especially frustrating for manager Oliver Marmol.
“Our approaches weren’t very good,” Marmol said bluntly. “In my opinion, that’s the worst game we’ve played.”
The Cardinals’ lineup has repeatedly faltered after falling behind early in games, something Marmol says they need to overcome.
“You have to be mentally tough,” he said. “You’ve got to separate what’s going on on that side of the ball and still take productive at-bats and keep your approach.”
They’ll turn to Sonny Gray (9-4, 4.04 ERA), who’s looking to rebound after an ugly outing against Arizona. Gray gave up nine runs (eight earned) on 11 hits in just 3 1/3 innings during a 10-1 loss. However, he has historically dominated San Diego, going 3-0 with a 1.58 ERA in three career starts.
Looking to profit on this NL showdown? Don’t miss our free MLB betting guide for key insights.
With both clubs desperate to turn things around, this opener could set the tone for the entire series. Can Darvish find his form, or will Gray continue his mastery of the Padres? Get the latest analysis and best bets with our updated MLB Predictions and Picks.
