The St. Louis Cardinals (68-70) host the Athletics (63-75) on September 1, 2025. First pitch from Busch Stadium is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. EDT; the game will be broadcast on NBCS-CA.
Find my MLB betting preview and Athletics vs Cardinals prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, betting trends, injury reports and more.
Our Athletics vs Cardinals Prediction
- Athletics vs Cardinals pick: Under 8
Our Athletics vs Cardinals best bet is on the under total runs. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Athletics vs Cardinals Odds
| Athletics Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -180 | 7.5 -115o / -105u | +120 |
| Cardinals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +150 | 7.5 -115o / -105u | -145 |
Athletics vs Cardinals Projected Starting Pitchers
| RHP Luis Morales (ATH) | Stat | RHP Sonny Gray (STL) |
|---|---|---|
| 2-0 | W-L | 12-7 |
| 0.6 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 3.3 |
| 1.19/4.64 | ERA /xERA | 4.19/3.73 |
| 3.08/4.19 | FIP / xFIP | 3.24/3.04 |
| 0.97 | WHIP | 1.18 |
| 13.6% | K-BB% | 22.3% |
| 30.4% | GB% | 41.5% |
| 109 | Stuff+ | 92 |
| 104 | Location+ | 106 |
Athletics vs Cardinals Prediction, Betting Analysis
Neither team is realistically chasing a playoff spot, but both send intriguing arms to the mound in Game 1. Athletics turns to Luis Morales, who has been outstanding since his debut on August 1, posting a 2-0 record with a 1.19 ERA across five appearances (four starts). For St. Louis, it’s Sonny Gray, who faces his former club after starring in the A’s from 2013–2017.
The Cardinals are coming off a 2–1 series win over the Reds, while the A’s were swept by Texas, giving up 23 runs across three games.
But the real betting angle here comes from Evan Abrams’ “Wind Blowing In, Short and Long Term” system. Busch Stadium is one of those parks where wind direction plays a crucial role, and with conditions projected to blow in Monday, scoring is often suppressed.
Balls that would normally carry out of the park tend to die in the outfield, making the Under historically profitable in these spots—both in short samples and long-term trends.
Pair those conditions with Morales’ strong start to his career and Gray’s consistency, and the Under 8 looks like the best bet on the board.
Pick: Under 8 (-125, Fanatics)
Athletics vs Cardinals Betting Trends
