September 8, 2025

Game Preview

Written by: Jake Turner

Jake is a veteran sports analyst with over 10 years of MLB prop betting experience.

Cardinals vs Mariners: Betting Preview & Props (Sep 08)

Last updated: September 08, 2025

Game Time: 9/8, 09:40PM

Matchup Setup

On September 8th, the St. Louis Cardinals face off against the Seattle Mariners in a critical late-season matchup. With the Mariners favored at -224 and the Cardinals as +181 underdogs, bettors are heavily backing Seattle, drawing 88% of the money. This analysis explores whether the odds align with the expected on-field performance.

Pitcher Breakdown

Pitching Matchup: Miles Mikolas vs Bryan Woo

Miles Mikolas (STL):

Mikolas brings a diverse pitch mix to the mound, featuring a Four-Seam Fastball (28% usage, 92.8 mph), Slider (23% usage, 87.7 mph), Curveball (17% usage, 75.8 mph), Sinker (16% usage, 92.3 mph), Changeup (12% usage, 85.7 mph), and Sweeper (3% usage, 80.8 mph). As a pitch-mix artist, Mikolas relies on keeping hitters off-balance rather than overpowering them with velocity. The Mariners lineup has a season average of .258 but projects to .252 against Mikolas's varied arsenal.

Bryan Woo (SEA):

Woo is a velocity-heavy pitcher, primarily using his Four-Seam Fastball (47% usage, 95.7 mph) and Sinker (26% usage, 95.4 mph) to challenge hitters. He complements these with a Slider (10% usage, 88.5 mph), Sweeper (9% usage, 85.0 mph), and Changeup (7% usage, 89.7 mph). The Cardinals lineup, averaging .249 this season, is projected to bat .248 against Woo's fastball-led repertoire.

Lineup Matchups

Lineup Matchups & Batting Edges

For STL vs Bryan Woo: The Cardinals lineup, typically batting .249, projects slightly lower at .248 against Woo. Notably:

Nolan Gorman shows improvement: Season BA .222 → xBA vs Woo .245 (+23 points), Season K% 31.4% → Arsenal K% 29.3% (-2.1%)
Iván Herrera faces challenges: Season BA .283 → xBA vs Woo .233 (-50 points)

For SEA vs Miles Mikolas: The Mariners lineup averages .258 but drops to a projected .252 against Mikolas. Key changes include:

Jorge Polanco improves: Season BA .258 → xBA vs Mikolas .283 (+25 points)
Josh Naylor struggles: Season BA .282 → xBA vs Mikolas .240 (-42 points)

Lineup Strikeout Trends vs Arsenal

Strikeout Risks & Rewards

The Cardinals' projected K-rate is 22.1% vs Bryan Woo — down 0.8% from their 22.9% season average, suggesting a potential contact advantage.
The Mariners see a jump, with a projected K-rate of 24.2% vs Miles Mikolas — up 4.3% from their 19.9% season average, indicating potential strikeout opportunities.

Plate Umpire Analysis

Behind the Plate: Umpire assignment has not been announced, which makes prop volatility a concern.

What to Bet On

📢 Prop Alert: Jorge Polanco (.258 → .283, +25 points) meets betting lean criteria!

⚡ K Prop Alert: Miles Mikolas strikeout OVER - Mariners' K-rate jumps to 24.2% vs this arsenal!

🔑 Key Takeaways

Jorge Polanco shows a significant batting advantage against Mikolas, presenting a promising prop opportunity.
Miles Mikolas could capitalize on increased strikeout potential against the Mariners.
Lack of umpire data adds uncertainty to prop bets, emphasizing the need for flexible strategies.
Betting leans favor specific player props and Mikolas's strikeout potential.

🧠 FAQs

Q: Who is the best betting prop for the STL vs SEA game? A: Jorge Polanco presents a strong betting prop opportunity with a projected xBA increase against Mikolas.

Q: Is the umpire a pitcher-friendly umpire? A: Umpire assignment has not been announced, so tendencies are unknown.

Q: What time is the STL vs SEA game? A: The game is scheduled for 9/8, 09:40PM.

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