San Diego Padres vs. St. Louis Cardinals: July 26, 2025 MLB Preview

Saturday, July 26th, 2025

San Diego Padres at St. Louis Cardinals Game Preview

The San Diego Padres (55-49, second in the NL West) are set to visit the St. Louis Cardinals (54-51, fourth in the NL Central) on Saturday, July 26, 2025, with first pitch scheduled for 6:15 PM CT at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

The St. Louis Cardinals will aim to extend their three-game home winning streak as they host the San Diego Padres in the third meeting between these teams this season.

Pitching Matchup

For the San Diego Padres, Randy Vasquez (3-4) is slated to start. He holds a 3.73 ERA with a 1.41 WHIP and has recorded 50 strikeouts this season.

The St. Louis Cardinals will send Matthew Liberatore (6-7) to the mound. Liberatore carries a 4.13 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP, accumulating 80 strikeouts.

Betting Odds

The Cardinals are favored at -157, with the Padres listed at +130. The over/under for the game is set at 9 runs.

Team Insights

St. Louis Cardinals Analysis

The Cardinals enter with an overall record of 54-51, including a strong 31-20 record in home games. St. Louis has demonstrated power at the plate, going 24-6 in games where they hit two or more home runs.

San Diego Padres Analysis

The Padres hold a 55-49 overall record, with a road record of 24-31. San Diego has been effective when their offense clicks, boasting a 29-10 record in games where they score at least five runs.

Key Players

Cardinals' Top Performers

Brendan Donovan leads the Cardinals with a .293 batting average, adding 24 doubles and nine home runs. Willson Contreras has been hot over the last 10 games, going 13 for 37 with two home runs and eight RBI.

Padres' Top Performers

Manny Machado has been a significant power source for the Padres, with 24 doubles and 19 home runs. Luis Arraez has been productive recently, collecting 13 hits, including three doubles, in his last 10 games.

Recent Form

In their last 10 games, the Cardinals have a 4-6 record, with a .260 batting average and a 5.19 ERA, being outscored by 16 runs.

The Padres also hold a 4-6 record over their last 10 contests, but with a .259 batting average and a more impressive 3.18 ERA, outscoring their opponents by four runs.

Injury Report

Cardinals: Nolan Gorman (back - 10-Day IL), Lars Nootbaar (ribs - 10-Day IL), Zack Thompson (lat - 60-Day IL).

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

In summary

The San Diego Padres will face the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Busch Stadium. Randy Vasquez is set to pitch for the Padres against Matthew Liberatore for the Cardinals. St. Louis holds a strong home record and is favored in the matchup, while San Diego aims to improve its road performance. Key players like Brendan Donovan and Manny Machado will look to contribute for their respective teams in this third game of the season series.

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