MLB: Washington vs St. Louis (04/07/26)

Game Preview

The St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals are right back at it after a wild 9-6 game on Monday, and the rematch sets up with two starters trying to steady the pace. Washington has been living in high-scoring games, while St. Louis is trying to turn recent lineup flashes into a cleaner full-game performance. With both teams showing power in this series and a total sitting at 7.5, this one has a strong chance to turn on which starter settles in first.

Game Information

Recent Matchup History

• April 6, 2026: St. Louis Cardinals 6 at Washington Nationals 9
• July 10, 2025: Washington Nationals 1 at St. Louis Cardinals 8
• July 9, 2025: Washington Nationals 8 at St. Louis Cardinals 2
• July 8, 2025: Washington Nationals 2 at St. Louis Cardinals 4
• May 11, 2025: St. Louis Cardinals 6 at Washington Nationals 1

Why Washington Could Win

Washington could win if Cade Cavalli gives them another steady outing and the middle of this order keeps doing damage. Cavalli’s most recent line was strong: 5 hits, 1 earned run, 3 strikeouts, 2 walks over a quality start, and that matters against a St. Louis team that has been uneven on the road. The Nationals just put up 9 runs Monday, and James Wood led the way with 2 hits, 1 home run, 3 RBI, and 2 walks, while Brady House added 3 hits, 2 doubles, and 1 home run. There is some bullpen stress here, but the top late arms listed are still marked green. Washington trends also point to scoring: the Nationals are 8-2 to the over in their last 10 games and averaging 6.4 runs in that span. If Cavalli works into the middle innings, the offense has a real path again.

Why St. Louis Could Win

St. Louis could win if its lineup carries over what it did late Monday and if Michael McGreevy keeps the game from turning into another bullpen-heavy night. The Cardinals had real life in the bats, finishing with 9 hits and 6 runs, with Ramón Urías going 3-for-4 with a double and a home run, Jordan Walker adding 2 hits and a home run, and Thomas Saggese collecting 2 hits plus a walk. Walker also has past success against this pitching group, with a homer in limited history. St. Louis gets a quiet edge from bullpen freshness too. The Cardinals’ listed relievers all carry green availability, and their team stress is just 4 compared with Washington’s 13. Even with poor recent away trends, including 1-4 in their last 5 road games, St. Louis has enough lineup pop and the fresher relief group to flip this matchup if the starter keeps traffic down early.

Final Pick

St. Louis Cardinals ML (-104)

Confidence: 6.34/10.00

The edge is solid but not huge. A moneyline of -104 implies roughly 50.98%, and this matchup grades St. Louis closer to 55%, giving the Cardinals about a 4.02% edge. The best support comes from the fresher bullpen, recent offensive production from Walker and Urías, and Washington’s rough home and favorite trends. The main concern is limited starter form detail for St. Louis, which keeps this from landing higher.