Athletics vs. St. Louis Cardinals: Game Preview, Odds, Pitching Matchup & Key Players – September 3, 2025

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025

Athletics vs. St. Louis Cardinals Game Preview: September 3, 2025

Matchup Overview

The Oakland Athletics (64-76, fifth in the AL West) head on the road to face the St. Louis Cardinals (69-71, fourth in the NL Central) on Wednesday night at Busch Stadium. The series is tied 1-1, making this the deciding contest in a three-game set.

Pitching Probables

The Athletics will send Jeffrey Springs to the mound. Springs brings a 10-9 record, a 4.17 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 122 strikeouts into the game. Opposing him for the Cardinals will be Matthew Liberatore, who is 6-11 with a 4.32 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 102 strikeouts this season.

Odds favor the Cardinals at -114, while the Athletics are listed at -106. The over/under for total runs is set at 8.5.

Team Trends and Records

St. Louis holds a 69-71 overall record and has performed well at home, winning 38 out of 71 games at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals are especially successful when their offense clicks, posting a 50-25 record in games where they notch eight or more hits.

The Athletics have struggled overall (64-76) but hold a nearly even away record at 35-36. They are 54-32 in games when their offense generates eight or more hits. This matchup marks the third meeting between these two clubs in the 2025 season.

Key Players to Watch

Willson Contreras continues to power the Cardinals’ offense, accumulating 30 doubles and 20 home runs. Recently, Alec Burleson has been hot at the plate, collecting 12 hits, two doubles, and a home run over his last 10 games.

For Oakland, Brent Rooker leads the way with 35 doubles, three triples, 27 home runs, and a .268 batting average. Jacob Wilson has also caught fire, going 14 for 40 with three doubles and two home runs in his past 10 games.

Recent Performance

Both teams are 5-5 over their last 10 games. The Cardinals have a .206 team batting average over that stretch, with a 4.15 ERA, and have been outscored by 13 runs. The Athletics have a .246 average, a 4.60 ERA, and have outscored their opponents by two runs in the same span.

Injury Report

St. Louis Cardinals: Alec Burleson (wrist) is on the 10-Day IL. Yohel Pozo (concussion), John King (back), Brendan Donovan (groin), and Nolan Arenado (shoulder) are all sidelined. Zack Thompson (lat) remains on the 60-Day IL.

Oakland Athletics: Ben Bowden (lat), Austin Wynns (abdomen), Grant Holman (shoulder), Gunnar Hoglund (hip), Jose Leclerc (shoulder), and Luis Medina (elbow) are all on the 60-Day IL. Joey Estes (back), Jacob Lopez (flexor), Jack Perkins (shoulder) are all on the 15-Day IL. Denzel Clarke (abductor) and Max Muncy (hand) are each on the 10-Day IL.

Weather

At Busch Stadium today, expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 77°F, making for ideal baseball weather. There is no significant chance of precipitation, and winds will be light from the northwest at 6–10 mph. Fans can look forward to pleasant conditions for the game.

In summary

With the series on the line, both teams will look to leverage their strengths and overcome recent injuries. The Cardinals have a slight edge playing at home, but the Athletics are capable of an upset if their offense stays hot. Optimal pitching conditions and pleasant weather should provide a competitive and entertaining MLB matchup.

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