Nationals vs. Cardinals prediction: St. Louis favored to win Sunday's MLB matchup [9/20/2026]
Dimers' simulation model projects a 57.1% win probability for the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

The St. Louis Cardinals will face the Washington Nationals in MLB action at Busch Stadium on Sunday, commencing at 2:15 PM ET.
Quinn Mathews (2-3, 3.62 ERA) will be on the bump for the Cardinals, up against Jake Irvin (2-9, 5.51 ERA) for the Nationals.
Dimers' advanced MLB model projects the Cardinals as the most likely winner in this Nationals vs. Cardinals prediction.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Sunday's matchup, including best bets and picks.
Nationals vs. Cardinals prediction and odds
Our independent predictive model gives the Cardinals a 57.1% chance of beating the Nationals. According to our model, the Nationals (+1.5) have a 59.2% chance of covering the run line, while the 9-run over/under has a 50.3% chance of going over.
Latest betting odds
We have researched the best MLB odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
- Run Line: Nationals +1.5 (-153) / Cardinals -1.5 (+150)
- Moneyline: Nationals +135, Cardinals -138
- Total: Over/Under 9 (-102/-110)
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Model picks and best bet
After matching our probabilities against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets in this matchup. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
- Run line: Cardinals -1.5 @ 40¢ via Polymarket
- Moneyline: Nationals @ 43¢ via Novig
- Total: Over 9 @ -102 via BetMGM
According to our best MLB bets, the top play to make on this game is Cardinals -1.5 at the spread.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the current available odds.
Game info & first pitch details
Sunday's MLB game between the Cardinals and Nationals at Busch Stadium is scheduled to commence at 2:15 PM ET.
- Who: Washington Nationals vs. St. Louis Cardinals
- Date: Sunday, September 20, 2026
- Time: 2:15 PM ET/11:15AM PT
- Venue: Busch Stadium
Conclusion
We predict the Cardinals, with a 57.1% win probability, will likely beat the Nationals in Sunday's MLB matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
This article's predictions and probabilities are generated by Dimers' proprietary MLB prediction model. Our editorial team reviews the resulting content for accuracy and presentation before publication.



