MLB matchup analysis

Phillies vs Cardinals Prediction, Odds and Model Pick

Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at Busch Stadium · 7:45 PM ET

Pass

LyDia decision: Pass on Phillies vs Cardinals

Lab Rating
4.4/10
Model lean
Phillies 53.4%
Market probability
60.4%
Model edge
-7.0%
Best moneyline
-160
Sportsbooks checked
9
LyDia model
53.4%
Market
60.4%

The case for Philadelphia Phillies

Starting pitcher edge: 14 points
LyDia gives Cristopher Sánchez a 14-point edge over Andre Pallante, driven mainly by K/9 (10.5 vs 6.5) and K-BB% (22.2% vs 10.3%).
Bats are hot: +0.017 wOBA
Philadelphia Phillies is outhitting its own season form over the last 15 days. Recent form is context, not a model input, but it points the same way here.

The case for St. Louis Cardinals

Late-inning bullpen advantage
Philadelphia Phillies relievers have a 5.34 ERA over the last 7 days; St. Louis Cardinals relievers have a 3.05. Philadelphia Phillies also have 9 arms pitching on back-to-back days, against 6 for St. Louis Cardinals. If this is still close after six innings, that gap favors St. Louis Cardinals.

Why it is not official

Below the 61.0% official gate
Win probability is 53.4%. LyDia does not make a game official below 61.0%, no matter how good the price is. This is a value spot, not a high-confidence winner.
Setup quality below the bar
Lab Rating is 4.4/10, under the 8.0/10 required for an official pick.
Own bullpen carries risk: 9.7/10
The Philadelphia Phillies bullpen comes in high risk. A lead after six innings is less safe than usual.

Why the setup score is what it is

Conviction: 2.43/35
LyDia leans toward Philadelphia Phillies, but not strongly enough to earn full conviction credit.
Bullpen: 4.47/20
LyDia does not see a meaningful bullpen edge for Philadelphia Phillies once assigned innings are weighted.
The verdict LyDia passes. The combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.
Read the full model output

The combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.

Game information

MatchupPhiladelphia Phillies at St. Louis Cardinals
DateTuesday, August 11, 2026
First pitch7:45 PM ET
VenueBusch Stadium
Starting pitchersCristopher Sánchez vs Andre Pallante
WeatherGame-time forecast: 94°F, 2% precipitation chance, 12 mph wind from S.

Starting pitcher matchup

Full Pitcher Matchup Tool →
Cristopher SánchezPhillies · LHP
vs
Andre PallanteCardinals · RHP
MetricPhilliesCardinals
Pitching planTraditional starterTraditional starter
Expected innings6⅓5⅔
ThrowsLR
LyDia pitcher score (higher is better)8167
ERA (lower is better)2.653.63
WHIP (lower is better)1.221.22
K/9 (higher is better)10.56.5
K-BB% (higher is better)22.2%10.3%
K% (higher is better)27.8%17.4%
BB% (lower is better)5.6%7.2%
BB/9 (lower is better)2.12.7
HR/9 (lower is better)0.80.7
Ground-ball rate63.8%61.9%
Fly-ball rate36.2%38.1%

Pitcher edge: LyDia gives Cristopher Sánchez a 14-point edge over Andre Pallante, driven mainly by K/9 (10.5 vs 6.5) and K-BB% (22.2% vs 10.3%).

How to read this: the scorecards above name the starters; every number lives in this table. Highlighted cells mark a gap big enough to matter. K% and BB% are strikeout and walk rate as a share of batters faced -- K-BB% is the two combined into one skill number. HR/9 is home runs allowed per nine innings. Ground-ball and fly-ball rate are neither good nor bad on their own: high ground-ball pitchers trade strikeouts for double plays and fewer home runs, and on this data source the two rates are complementary (they add to 100%), not independent reads.

Strikeout Projections Full strikeout projections →

6.9 LyDia projected Ks
No strikeout line posted when this page was generated
Andre Pallante strikeouts
3.3 LyDia projected Ks
No K play · -0.2K difference is below LyDia's 0.7K threshold
Market 3.5K · O +100 / U -121 · 6 books

Same data source as the Pitcher Matchup Tool, where every starter on the slate is compared side by side.

Phillies are 7-3 in their last 10, averaging 5.3 runs per game over the last 15 days, and swinging above their season form; Cardinals are 5-5 in their last 10 and averaging 3.9 runs per game over the last 15 days. Season run differential separates them by almost nothing (+0.01 against -0.08).

MetricPhilliesCardinals
Last 107-35-5
Last 10 by venue (away team on the road, home team at home)5-5 on the road4-6 at home
OPS, last 15 days0.7470.694
wOBA, last 15 days (hot/cold read)0.3290.308
Runs per game, last 15 days5.33.9
K% last 15 days (lower is better)16.6%19.3%

Last 15 days only. Hot and cold streaks for all 30 teams live on the Stats page.

30-day offense

Full offense tool →
Last 30 daysPhilliesCardinals
OPS0.736 (+0.027 vs szn)0.641 (-0.055 vs szn)
Runs per game4.79 (+0.342 vs szn)3.76 (-0.610 vs szn)
wOBA (model offense input)0.323 (+0.011 vs szn)0.288 (-0.021 vs szn)
K% (lower is better)21.3% (-1.6% vs szn)19.9%

Over the last 30 days the Phillies have been the better offense, 0.323 wOBA to 0.288. They are running hot against their own season line (+0.011 wOBA).

Season profile

Full Stats page →
MetricPhilliesCardinals
Record64-5659-60
Run differential / game (team quality)+0.01-0.08
Runs scored / game (offense, season)4.454.37
Runs allowed / game (defense, season, lower better)4.444.45
Season OPS0.7090.696
K% season (lower is better)23.0%20.3%
OPS vs opposing hand (season)0.7160.695

Season-long team quality, not recent form. Run differential and run environment come from the season standings; splits for all 30 teams live on the Stats page, including the run environment table.

Every team on today's slate, on any two axes you pick. Phillies and Cardinals are highlighted.

Phillies
Combined risk
9.7 High risk
Fatigue
9.2 High risk
Efficiency
4.1 Below average
Cardinals
Combined risk
6.1 Normal
Fatigue
6.5 Tired
Efficiency
5.9 Effective

Risk is what the model actually uses: fatigue blended with how well the pen has pitched. High fatigue with high efficiency is a tired pen that is still getting outs.

MetricPhilliesCardinals
Fatigue9.2/10, High risk6.5/10, Tired
Efficiency4.1/10, Below average5.9/10, Effective
Combined risk9.7/10, High risk6.1/10, Normal
Relief innings, last 7 days30.320.7
Back-to-back arms96
7-day ERA5.343.05
7-day WHIP1.421.16

Fatigue measures workload. Efficiency measures recent run prevention. Combined risk is what the moneyline and totals systems use.

Run total projection

Full Totals Projections →
LyDia projection
7.2
Market total
7.5
Projected away runs
4.4
Projected home runs
2.2
Over price
-109
Under price
-102
Philadelphia Phillies team total
4.4 projected
Line 4.5 · O +102 / U -110
No team-total lean
St. Louis Cardinals team total
2.2 projected
Line 3.5 · O +116 / U -125
Under research lean (-1.3)

The model and market are close. Team totals remain research-only until their graded sample is established.

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