Game Preview
Houston tries to stop a slide Friday night at Daikin Park, but St. Louis comes in with real momentum after taking the opener 9-4. The matchup puts a big-name Houston starter against a Cardinals lineup that just showed more pop than usual, with Iván Herrera and Nolan Gorman both leaving the yard on Thursday. With Houston listed as the home favorite and the total sitting at 9, this one sets up as a strong test of whether the Astros can steady the series or whether the Cardinals can keep cashing in on recent form.
Game Information
| Date | Saturday, April 18, 2026 |
| Time | 7:10 PM EST |
| Venue | Daikin Park |
Recent Matchup History
- April 17, 2026: St. Louis Cardinals 9 at Houston Astros 4
- April 16, 2025: Houston Astros 1 at St. Louis Cardinals 4
- April 15, 2025: Houston Astros 2 at St. Louis Cardinals 0
- April 14, 2025: Houston Astros 3 at St. Louis Cardinals 8
- June 5, 2024: St. Louis Cardinals 4 at Houston Astros 2
Why Houston Could Win
Houston could win if Lance McCullers Jr. gives them the kind of sharp start he showed on March 30, when he worked through 24 plate appearances, allowed just 4 hits and 1 earned run, and piled up 9 strikeouts. That outing came with a 11.57 K/9, a 1.29 BB/9, and a .469 OPS allowed, which is the cleanest pitching profile in this game. Houston also has enough power near the top of the order to flip the game quickly. In Thursday’s loss, Christian Vázquez, Yordan Alvarez, and Jose Altuve all homered, and Alvarez finished with 5 total bases. The Astros are still 7-3 in their last 10 home games and 6-4 ATS in that span, so the home setting has treated them much better than their overall recent record. Their bullpen is available too, with every listed reliever graded Green.
Why St. Louis Could Win
St. Louis could win if its lineup keeps forcing Houston into traffic and gets McCullers into long counts early. The Cardinals just scored 9 runs in the series opener, and several hitters are coming in hot. Iván Herrera went 2-for-4 with a homer and 3 RBIs, Nolan Gorman hit a three-run shot, and Alec Burleson added two hits with a double. That recent form lines up with the team trend line: St. Louis is 3-0 in its last 3 games, 3-0 ATS in that stretch, and 4-1 over its last 5 road games. The Cardinals also have the fresher bullpen on paper. Their team stress sits at 6 compared with Houston’s 11, and every listed St. Louis reliever is marked Green. Houston has been rough against the number lately at home and overall, going just 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games, which gives St. Louis a real path again as the underdog.
Final Pick
St. Louis Cardinals ML (+127)
