San Diego Padres at St. Louis Cardinals: Darvish vs. Gray MLB Preview (July 24, 2025)

Thursday, July 24th, 2025

San Diego Padres at St. Louis Cardinals: Game Preview – July 24, 2025

The San Diego Padres (55-47, second in the NL West) are set to visit the St. Louis Cardinals (52-51, fourth in the NL Central) on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 6:45 PM. This game marks the beginning of a four-game series between the two teams in St. Louis, their first meeting of the season.

Pitching Matchup

For the San Diego Padres, Yu Darvish is slated to start. He holds a record of 0-2 with a 6.08 ERA, a 1.50 WHIP, and eight strikeouts this season.

The St. Louis Cardinals will counter with Sonny Gray on the mound. Gray enters the game with a 9-4 record, a 4.04 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and 123 strikeouts.

The Cardinals are favored in this matchup at -138, with the Padres at +116. The over/under for the game is set at 8 runs.

Team Insights

The St. Louis Cardinals hold a 52-51 overall record and have performed well at home with a 29-20 record. Their collective batting average of .252 ranks 10th in Major League Baseball.

The San Diego Padres come into the game with a 55-47 overall record, including a 24-29 record on the road. Padres pitchers have a strong collective ERA of 3.60, which is the sixth-best in MLB.

Top Performers

For the Cardinals, Brendan Donovan has been a key offensive contributor with 24 doubles and eight home runs. Willson Contreras has been hot over the last 10 games, batting 13 for 41 with five doubles, two home runs, and six RBI.

Leading the Padres offense is Luis Arraez, who boasts a .285 batting average, along with 18 doubles, four triples, and five home runs. Xander Bogaerts has also been productive recently, going 13 for 37 with a home run and five RBI over his last 10 games.

Recent Performance

The Cardinals have struggled in their last 10 games, posting a 3-7 record. During this span, they have a .264 batting average and a 5.29 ERA, having been outscored by 15 runs.

Conversely, the Padres have been in better form, with a 6-4 record in their last 10 games. They have a .259 batting average and a strong 2.48 ERA, outscoring their opponents by 12 runs.

Injury Report

Cardinals Injuries: Thomas Saggese (day-to-day, undisclosed), Nolan Gorman (10-Day IL, back), Lars Nootbaar (10-Day IL, ribs), Zack Thompson (60-Day IL, lat).

Padres Injuries: Michael King (60-Day IL, shoulder), Jhony Brito (60-Day IL, forearm), Joe Musgrove (60-Day IL, elbow).

In summary

The San Diego Padres, currently second in the NL West, face the St. Louis Cardinals, fourth in the NL Central, in the first game of a four-game series on July 24, 2025. The Padres, boasting a strong pitching staff with Yu Darvish starting, have shown better recent form with a 6-4 record in their last 10 games. The Cardinals, despite a better home record and Sonny Gray on the mound, have struggled recently at 3-7. Key offensive players like Luis Arraez for the Padres and Brendan Donovan for the Cardinals will be crucial. St. Louis is the slight betting favorite, but San Diego's recent performance and pitching strength make this an intriguing opening matchup.

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