San Diego Padres vs St. Louis Cardinals Prediction 5/9/26 MLB Picks Today

The St. Louis Cardinals and the San Diego Padres meet Saturday in MLB action from Petco Park. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Diego Padres prediction.

Starting Pitching Matchup

The St. Louis Cardinals will send out Dustin May for the start here and May is 3-3 with a 5.15 ERA and 25 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against the Padres, May is 1-1 with a 5.20 ERA and 18 strikeouts. Randy Vasquez will start for the Padres and is 3-1 with a 3.20 ERA and 36 strikeouts this season. In his career, Vasquez is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA and 7 strikeouts against the Cardinals.

St. Louis Cardinals Recap

The St. Louis Cardinals come into this game looking to add on to their 6-0 win over San Diego last time out to sit at 23-15 this season. After this series, the Cardinals will head on the road for a series against the Athletics.

Cardinals Win Back-To-Back Games

Jordan Walker leads the Cardinals with 42 hits, 8 doubles, 10 home runs and 27 RBIs while Alec Burleson has 40 hits with 10 doubles, 6 home runs and 30 RBIs. JJ Wetherholt has 34 hits with 7 home runs and 20 RBIs while Ivan Herrera has 36 hits with 10 doubles, 4 home runs and 17 RBIs. Nolan Gorman has 28 hits with 5 home runs and 22 RBIs this season. Masyn Winn’s added 33 hits with 6 doubles and 16 RBIs and Nathan Church has 27 hits with 5 home runs and 16 RBIs this season.

San Diego Padres Recap

The San Diego Padres come into this game looking to bounce back from their loss at the hands of the Cardinals on Friday to sit at 22-16 this season. After this series, the Padres will head on the road for a set against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Padres Lose 3 In A Row

Jackson Merrill has 33 hits with 8 doubles, 4 home runs and 18 RBIs while Ramon Laureano has 29 hits with 4 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs and 19 RBIs as well on the year. Fernando Tatis Jr. has 34 hits with 5 doubles and 13 RBIs and Xander Bogaerts has 36 hits with 2 doubles, 7 home runs and 23 RBIs. Manny Machado also has 25 hits with 4 doubles, 5 home runs and 18 RBIs as well on the year.

St. Louis Cardinals @ San Diego Padres Betting Trends: May 9, 2026

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Randy Vasquez      Record this season: 3-1      ERA: 3.20
• Home Record: 2-0
• Last 5 against Cardinals: 1-1

Why the San Diego Padres will win

• The Cardinals have lost each of their last six day games against NL West opponents following a road win.
• The Padres have won nine of their last 10 day games against NL Central opponents following a home loss.
• The Cardinals have failed to cover the run line in nine of their last 10 day games against NL West opponents.
• The Padres have covered the run line in 17 of their last 19 day games against National League opponents following a loss.
• The Padres have led after 5 innings in each of their last six day games against the Cardinals at Petco Park.
• The Padres have led after 3 innings in each of their last six Saturday games against the Cardinals at Petco Park.
• The Padres have won the first inning in six of their last eight day games against the Cardinals.

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Dustin May      Record this season: 3-3      ERA: 5.15
• Road Record: 1-1
• Last 5 against Padres: 1-1

Why the St. Louis Cardinals will win

• The Cardinals have won each of their last six games as road underdogs.
• The Padres have lost each of their last four games as favorites against National League opponents.
• The underdogs have covered the run line in each of the Padres’ last nine games.
• The Padres have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven home games.
• The Cardinals have led after 5 innings in four of their last five road games.

Total Runs Facts

• Each of the Padres’ last five games as favorites have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Each of the Cardinals’ last four games against NL West opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cardinals’ last 10 Saturday day games.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Padres’ last five day games.

San Diego Padres Player Prop Facts

• Miguel Andujar has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 Saturday appearances against NL teams that held a winning record.
• Luis Campusano has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances with the Padres as favorites against NL opponents.
• Fernando Tatis Jr. ranks T9th in the league in Steals (9) this season.

St. Louis Cardinals Player Prop Facts

• Alec Burleson has hit a home run in three of the Cardinals’ last nine games.
• Alec Burleson has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances against NL West opponents.
• Ivan Herrera ranks 7th amongst qualified players for On Base Percentage (.414) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Padres rank 30th in the league for hits this season (283).
• The Padres rank 29th in the league for batting average this season (.227).
• The Cardinals rank 30th in the league for strikeouts this season (268).
• The Cardinals rank T26th in the league for triples this season (2).

St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Diego Padres Prediction

I’m on the Cardinals in this one. I get the case to be made for the Padres as Vasquez has been a solid arm for this Padres rotation all season long. However, the Padres just continue to be hit or miss and the Cardinals aren’t a team I’m looking to step in front of right now. Give me St. Louis.