Giants vs Cardinals Picks and Predictions

Giants vs Cardinals Picks and Predictions September 5th 2025

With both clubs chasing a postseason berth, the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals square off in a must-watch series beginning Friday night in St. Louis. Though they’ve taken different paths to get here, both teams are heating up at the right time.

Giants on a Power Surge

After an inconsistent season, the Giants are making noise with 10 wins in their last 11 games and a red-hot offense leading the charge. They’ve homered in 17 straight games, racking up 36 long balls during that stretch.

Third baseman Matt Chapman, one of the hottest bats in the lineup, knows time is running out.

“It’s better late than never,” Chapman said. “We’re really just trying to keep it rolling.”

Chapman’s status for Friday is uncertain as he awaits the outcome of an appeal following a suspension tied to a bench-clearing incident against Colorado.

Giants Need Another Win to Stay Close in Wild Card Race

The Giants currently trail the Mets by four games in the NL Wild Card race. Every game is now high-stakes baseball.

NL Wild Card Standings Snapshot

Team	Record	Wild Card Position	Games Behind
New York Mets	75-65	3rd	—
Cincinnati Reds	70-70	6th	5.0
San Francisco Giants	71-69	5th	4.0
St. Louis Cardinals	70-71	7th	5.5

As the standings tighten, this series could shift the Wild Card landscape.

Cardinals Showing Signs of Life

The Cardinals have also come alive recently, winning five of their last seven. Despite being 5.5 games back, momentum is clearly on their side.

One of the biggest reasons for optimism? Rookie pitcher Michael McGreevy, who was sharp in his last outing and will start Friday’s series opener.

“He kept the ball on the ground, made pitches, kept them off balance,” said manager Oliver Marmol.

Friday’s Pitching Matchup: Seymour vs McGreevy

The Giants will turn to opener Carson Seymour, who’s still searching for consistency, while the Cardinals go with Michael McGreevy, coming off one of his best starts of the season.

Pitcher	Team	W-L	ERA	Last Start
Carson Seymour	San Francisco Giants	0-2	4.74	4 ER, 2 HR vs Orioles
Michael McGreevy	St. Louis Cardinals	6-2	4.17	6 IP, 1 ER vs Reds

McGreevy pitched eight innings of one-run ball vs San Francisco last year. Seymour is still looking for his first win.

Key Players to Watch

The Giants’ bats have been scorching, but the Cardinals’ defense and pitching are trending up.

Player	Team	Notable Stat
Matt Chapman	San Francisco Giants	2 HR in last game
Michael McGreevy	St. Louis Cardinals	14 groundouts in last start
Jimmy Crooks	St. Louis Cardinals	Filling in at catcher

The Cardinals may also get Yohel Pozo back from concussion protocol, giving them more experience behind the plate.

Game Prediction and Best Bet

Momentum is on the Giants’ side, but the Cardinals have the edge in the pitching matchup with McGreevy. This one may come down to whether San Francisco’s power can crack the ground-ball-heavy McGreevy.

Pick: Cardinals ML (+100)
Prediction: Cardinals 5, Giants 4

Need more betting guidance? Tap into the MLB expert betting guide for insights and tips.

Explore the Teams

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FAQs

Who is starting for the Giants vs Cardinals?

Carson Seymour opens for San Francisco; Michael McGreevy starts for St. Louis.

Why is Matt Chapman suspended?

Chapman was involved in an on-field altercation with the Rockies. He appealed his one-game suspension.

How have the Cardinals played recently?

They’ve won five of their last seven and are gaining momentum late in the season.

Has McGreevy faced the Giants before?

Yes, he beat them last year with 8 innings of one-run ball.

How many games back are the Cardinals?

They are 5.5 games out of the final NL Wild Card spot entering this series.

Where can I find more MLB picks and predictions?

Visit the latest MLB picks for expert breakdowns.

St. Louis Cardinals vs San Francisco Giants Picks and Predictions September 5th 2025