Nationals vs Cardinals Picks and Prediction – 7/9/2025

The struggling Washington Nationals (37-53) head to Busch Stadium to face the St. Louis Cardinals (48-43) on July 9 at 5:45 PM ET. Both teams are coming off losses: Washington fell 6-4 against Boston, while the Cardinals were embarrassed by the Cubs, losing 11-0. MacKenzie Gore (3-8, 3.11 ERA) gets the start for the Nationals, opposing St. Louis’ Sonny Gray (8-3, 3.51 ERA). Elevate your MLB game with our top-notch MLB picks.

Washington limps into this game losing three straight, including the recent 6-4 defeat against Boston, where pitching again failed to stop runs early. Gore, despite a losing record, has pitched better than numbers suggest, registering 131 strikeouts in 104.1 innings and a respectable 1.21 WHIP. The Nationals must capitalize offensively behind James Wood, who leads with 23 homers and 67 RBIs.

On the mound, Washington has struggled notably, posting a team ERA of 5.16 with a WHIP of 1.40. Injuries have piled up, sidelining pitchers Trevor Williams and Derek Law, and putting additional pressure on Gore. A shaky bullpen and vulnerable pitching make the Nationals underdogs, particularly on the road, where they are 19-25 this year.

St. Louis, holding second place in the NL Central, was dismantled 11-0 by the Cubs in the last game, continuing recent inconsistencies. Despite recent struggles, Cardinals' hitters like Brendan Donovan (.296 AVG) and Willson Contreras (51 RBI, 11 HR) provide consistent threats at the plate. Nolan Arenado, vital offensively, remains day-to-day, leaving uncertainty in the batting lineup.

The pitching staff has been a brighter spot for St. Louis, evident by the team's 4.08 ERA and solid 1.27 WHIP. Sonny Gray has been reliable, allowing only 18 walks in 100 innings pitched and tallying 107 strikeouts. However, with key injuries like Zack Thompson and Drew Rom out, Gray must deliver a strong performance to cover bullpen vulnerabilities.

With Sonny Gray pitching well and MacKenzie Gore lacking adequate run support, the Cardinals have the edge. St. Louis boasts stronger overall batting and pitching stats (4.08 ERA, .251 team AVG) than the struggling Nationals (5.16 ERA, .247 AVG). Expect a bounce-back game from the Cardinals at home, where they are 26-17 this season. Final Score Prediction: Cardinals win 6-3.