St. Louis Cardinals vs Seattle Mariners Picks and Predictions September 8th 2024

At 2:15 PM ET, the Mariners and Cardinals face off in an interleague matchup. This one is being played at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, and the Mariners are favored on the money line (-127). The Cardinals’ money line odds are sitting at +108, and the over/under line is at 7.5 runs.

RSNW is televising today’s Mariners-Cardinals matchup, and Luis Castillo will be starting for the Mariners, while the Cardinals are going with Miles Mikolas. Both teams are 2nd in their respective divisions, and the Cardinals are 72-70, while the Mariners are just above .500 at 72-71.

Seattle vs. St. Louis Key Information

• Teams: Mariners at Cardinals
• Where: Busch Stadium St. Louis
• Date: Sunday, September 8th
• Betting Odds SEA -127 | STL +108 O/U 7.5

The Mariners Can Win If…

Right-hander Luis Castillo gets the start for the Mariners today as he faces the Cardinals on the road. He has made 29 starts this season and has a record of 11-12 with an ERA of 3.60. So far, Castillo has turned in 18 quality starts and is averaging 8.98 strikeouts per nine innings. In his last outing, Castillo finished with a no-decision, giving up two earned runs in seven innings of work. Before that, he had given up at least four earned runs in three straight starts. Castillo has been much better at home this year, coming in with a 4.47 ERA on the road compared to 3.30 at home.

Julio Rodríguez has been swinging a hot bat of late for the Mariners, going 13/37 in his last nine games, including two home runs. For the season, he is batting .261 and is 3rd on the team with 49 RBIs. Cal Raleigh and Luke Raley have also been swinging the bat well of late, with Raleigh going 9/36 in his last nine games and Raley going 6/22 in his last six games.

Seattle’s offense has been one of the worst in the league this season, averaging just 4 runs per game, which is 26th in the league. They are also near the bottom of the league in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. Seattle does have a good team walk rate and is 14th in the league in home runs.

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• The Mariners are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Mariners are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Seattle has an over/under record of 6-3-1 in their last ten games.
• The Mariners have an average of 6.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Mariners are 4-6
• Looking back across the Mariners last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Seattle has gone 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Mariners have averaged 5.3 runs per game on offense

The Cardinals Can Win If…

St. Louis is sending Miles Mikolas to the mound today vs. the Mariners. He has made 28 starts this season and has a record of 8-10 with an ERA of 5.27. Mikolas has made 14 quality starts this year and is coming off a rough outing vs. the Yankees, where he gave up three earned runs in four innings of work. In that outing, he gave up one homer. Mikolas didn’t give up a homer in the three previous outings. He has a home ERA of 6.6 compared to 5.14 on the road.

St. Louis has been led offensively by Alec Burleson and Paul Goldschmidt, who are tied for the team lead with 21 home runs. Burleson is also the team’s leading run producer, with 73 RBIs, while Goldschmidt is 4th on the team with 58 RBIs. Goldschmidt has been hot of late, batting .353 over his last eight games. Masyn Winn comes into the game with a batting average of .273 and is 3rd on the team with 12 homers.

For the season, the Cardinals are averaging 4.1 runs per game, which is 24th in the league. As a team, they are batting .246, which is 9th in the league. However, they are just 19th in home runs and have a collective OPS of .700, which is also 19th in the MLB.

• The Cardinals are 7-3 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Cardinals are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• St. Louis has an over/under record of 5-4-1 in their last ten games.
• The Cardinals have an average of 3.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Cardinals are 6-4
• Looking back across the Cardinal’s last five games as the favorite, they are 1-4
• St. Louis has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Cardinals have averaged 4.7 runs per game on offense

The Lean

For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over. As for how we are playing the money line in this one, we are leaning toward the Mariners to come out on top. Seattle’s offense is our 5th highest projected run-scoring team in today’s slate, and Luis Castillo has the 4th best strikeout projection among today’s starters. On the other side, Miles Mikolas has the 5th worst strikeout projection.

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Cardinals Host Mariners: Eyeing a Crucial Series Win in Playoff Push

The St. Louis Cardinals are in the heat of their playoff battle as they gear up to face the Seattle Mariners in the last game of their three-game series this Sunday. After splitting the first two games, the Cards are determined to secure a series win to keep their postseason hopes alive in the competitive National League wild-card race.

Cardinals’ Playoff Hopes: Hanging by a Thread

The Cardinals have been hanging tough, not losing a series since mid-August, but their playoff chances are still teetering. Heading into Sunday, they trail the New York Mets by six games for the final NL wild-card spot, with the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves also standing in their way. At 72-70, the Cardinals have no room for slip-ups as they fight tooth and nail to stay in the postseason conversation.

On the flip side, the Mariners (72-71) are right in the thick of the American League wild-card race. However, their 2-0 loss on Saturday night put a dent in their recent momentum.

Recap of the Series So Far

The Mariners came out swinging in the series opener on Friday with a commanding 6-1 win, but the Cardinals struck back on Saturday in a nail-biting pitching duel. Catcher Pedro Pages became the hero with an eighth-inning, two-run homer that handed the Cardinals a 2-0 victory. Interestingly, Pages’ homer came off one of only two hits St. Louis managed in the entire game, yet it was all they needed to get the win.

“It was electric — the whole dugout was fired up,” said Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, applauding Pages’ clutch performance. Saturday’s victory proved the Cards’ knack for pulling off wins, even when their offense is sputtering.

The Mariners, coming off a three-game win streak where they outscored their opponents 28-8, couldn’t get it done when it counted most. Despite having chances, they went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, leaving 10 men stranded on base.

Key Pitching Matchup for the Finale

Sunday’s game will feature a pitching showdown between Miles Mikolas for the Cardinals and Luis Castillo for the Mariners. Mikolas, who’s posted an 8-10 record with a 5.27 ERA, has been inconsistent lately, giving up four or more runs in five of his last six starts. In his last outing against the Yankees, he allowed five runs (three earned) in just four innings. Still, Mikolas has had success against Seattle in the past, boasting a 2.03 ERA in two career starts against them.

Luis Castillo, meanwhile, brings an 11-12 record with a solid 3.60 ERA to the mound for the Mariners. He’s been fairly reliable, giving up four runs over his last two starts (12 2/3 innings). While Castillo has had trouble with home runs, allowing three in his last two games, he has plenty of experience facing St. Louis from his time with the Cincinnati Reds, holding a 6-8 record and a 4.30 ERA over 19 career starts against the Cardinals.

Offensive Woes and Breakthroughs

The Cardinals’ offense has been a mixed bag. Even though they’ve won seven of their last 10 games, run production has been a struggle, and Saturday’s two-hit performance is a testament to that. They were lucky Pages came through with his timely home run to bail them out.

On the Mariners’ side, their bats were hot leading into Saturday’s game, but they cooled off at the worst possible time. J.P. Crawford gave credit to their recent offensive surge to hitting coach Edgar Martinez, mentioning how players were keeping things simple at the plate. “We’re going into every at-bat calm and ready to do some damage,” Crawford said. But on Saturday, they failed to cash in on their chances, and it cost them the game.

Cardinals: Injury Concerns and Roster Adjustments

The Cardinals faced some lineup challenges over the weekend. The good news? Star third baseman Nolan Arenado returned to action on Saturday after leaving Friday’s game with shoulder soreness. However, infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan missed Saturday’s game due to a foot infection that popped up overnight.

Manager Oliver Marmol is hopeful that Donovan will be back soon, but his status remains day-to-day. Additionally, the Cards made a bullpen adjustment after Friday’s struggles, recalling reliever Chris Roycroft from Triple-A Memphis. This came after Kyle Leahy’s rough outing, where he gave up four runs in just over an inning.

What’s at Stake for Both Teams?

For the Cardinals, every game from here on out is do or die. They’ve shown resilience over the past few weeks, but they have little room for error. Winning Sunday’s game would keep them on track in their wild-card chase, giving them a much-needed boost heading into the final stretch.

The Mariners, on the other hand, are also in a tight spot in the AL wild-card race. After showing some offensive firepower earlier in the week, Saturday’s setback served as a reminder of the importance of consistency. A win on Sunday would keep their playoff hopes intact and help them stay competitive in the crowded AL wild-card picture.

Keys to Victory for the Series Finale

For the Cardinals, it’s all about Miles Mikolas. Given his recent struggles, a solid start will be critical in containing the Mariners’ dangerous lineup. On the offensive side, St. Louis can’t rely on late-game heroics again—they need to find their groove early and give Mikolas some run support.

Seattle’s focus should be on sticking to their simplified offensive approach. If they can string together timely hits and avoid leaving runners stranded, they’ll have a good shot at taking the series. Castillo’s familiarity with the Cardinals could also play a key role, as he’ll look to exploit their offensive inconsistencies.

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Conclusion: A Crucial Showdown Awaits

Sunday’s game between the Cardinals and Mariners has big playoff implications for both teams. The Cardinals may have momentum on their side, but their playoff road is still steep, and they need every win they can get. Meanwhile, the Mariners are fighting to stay afloat in the tight AL wild-card race, and a victory would help restore the momentum they lost on Saturday.

With Mikolas and Castillo squaring off on the mound, it’s bound to be a tense, close game. Whether it’s the Cardinals’ resilience or the Mariners’ firepower that prevails, the outcome could have a major impact on both teams’ postseason aspirations.