The San Diego Padres host the St. Louis Cardinals on May 9, 2026. First pitch from Petco Park is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on FOX.
The Padres are favored by -143 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Cardinals are +119 on the moneyline and 1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 8 runs.
Find my MLB picks and Cardinals vs Padres prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Cardinals vs Padres Prediction
- Cardinals vs Padres Pick: Over 8 (-107 | Play to -130)
My Cardinals vs Padres best bet is Over 8. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Cardinals vs Padres Odds
| Cardinals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -194 | 8 -108o / -112u | +119 |
| Padres Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +159 | 8 -108o / -112u | -143 |
- Cardinals vs Padres moneyline: Cardinals +119, Padres -143
- Cardinals vs Padres over/under: 8 (-108o / -112u)
- Cardinals vs Padres spread: Cardinals +1.5 (-194), Padres -1.5 (+159)
Cardinals vs Padres Probable Pitchers
| RHP Dustin May (STL) | Stat | RHP Randy Vasquez (SD) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-3 | W-L | 3-1 |
| 0.6 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 0.6 |
| 5.15 / 4.18 | ERA / xERA | 3.20 / 4.53 |
| 3.82 / 4.27 | FIP / xFIP | 3.77 / 4.01 |
| 10.3% | K-BB% | 14.3% |
| 44.4% | GB% | 43.5% |
| .383 | BABIP | .274 |
| 102 | Stuff+ | 99 |
| 100 | Location+ | 100 |
Cardinals vs Padres MLB Betting Preview
St. Louis Cardinals Betting Preview: Is It Gonna Be May?
Right-hander Dustin May has had a forgettable start to his tenure with the Cardinals. Through his first seven starts, May owns a 5.15 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP.
These struggles are likely to continue against the San Diego Padres. He has faced them only once over the past couple of years, but it was a poor outing.
May surrendered six runs on six hits in five innings of work. There were 15 total runs scored in that game, and another high-scoring affair is likely Saturday.
San Diego Padres Betting Preview: Vasquez Due for a Clunker
The good news for May is that he may receive plenty of run support. This season, St. Louis ranks among the league's top 10 in runs scored per game, slugging percentage, and OPS.
The Cardinals’ success at the plate could continue against Padres' right-hander Randy Vásquez, who is a prime candidate for regression. Despite his early-season success, Vásquez’s underlying metrics are poor.
Entering this matchup, the right-hander ranks in the 36th percentile in xERA, 42nd percentile in xBA, 10th percentile in barrel rate and 41st percentile in hard-hit rate. However, like May, Vásquez could receive strong run support.
Cardinals vs Padres Pick, Betting Analysis
Through 85 combined plate appearances against May, the current Padres roster owns a .434 slugging percentage and a .408 xSLG. Meanwhile, the current Cardinals roster owns a .455 slugging percentage and a .583 xSLG in 35 combined plate appearances against Vásquez.
If May is chased early, St. Louis could be in trouble. This season, the Cardinals' bullpen ranks 25th in ERA and 27th in xERA.
Pick: Over 8 (-107 | Play to -130)
