Discover the Cardinals vs Phillies Preview and Prediction – Wednesday May 14, 2025

St. Louis Cardinals

@

Philadelphia Phillies

On May 14, 2025, the Philadelphia Phillies will host the St. Louis Cardinals in a pivotal matchup at Citizens Bank Park. This game is the first of a double-header and the second in a series between these two teams. The Phillies currently hold a record of 24-17, showcasing strong performance this season, while the Cardinals sit at 23-19, reflecting an above-average campaign.

In their last game, the Phillies secured a victory with a complete game shutout from their ace, Jesus Luzardo, further highlighting their strong pitching staff. Luzardo, who boasts an impressive 3-0 record and a stellar ERA of 2.11, is projected to take the mound again, continuing his dominance. He’s a high-strikeout lefty facing a Cardinals offense that ranks 5th least in terms of strikeouts, which could play to his advantage. However, Luzardo’s projections indicate a potential decline in performance, given that his xFIP stands at 3.25, suggesting he might have benefitted from some luck this season.

On the other side, the Cardinals will counter with Erick Fedde, who has been an average pitcher with a 3-3 record and a 3.86 ERA. Fedde struggles with control, as evidenced by a walk rate of 10.9%, which may prove troublesome against a Phillies lineup that ranks 6th in MLB in walks.

Offensively, the Phillies rank 10th overall and 7th in team batting average, while the Cardinals sit slightly behind at 9th overall but have a strong 5th ranking in batting average. The game total is set at an average of 8.5 runs, and with the Phillies favored, their implied team total of 4.81 runs indicates confidence in their offensive capabilities.

As the two teams clash, the Phillies will look to capitalize on their home-field advantage and maintain momentum against a Cardinals squad that will need to tighten up if they hope to pull off an upset.

Philadelphia Phillies Insights

• Philadelphia Phillies – Moneyline (-160)
  Out of every team playing today, the 2nd-weakest outfield defense is that of the Philadelphia Phillies.
  Explain: Defense is an integral part of preventing (or, in this case, allowing) hits and runs.
• Philadelphia Phillies – 2H Moneyline
  According to the leading projection system (THE BAT), the Philadelphia Phillies’ bullpen profiles as the 6th-worst among all the teams in baseball.
  Explain: Most bettors only consider the starting pitcher, but a weak bullpen sneakily creates an easier matchup for the opposing offense and boosts a game’s runs.