MLB matchup analysis

White Sox vs Cardinals Prediction, Odds and Model Pick

Sunday, September 13, 2026 at Busch Stadium · 2:15 PM ET

Pass

LyDia decision: Pass on White Sox vs Cardinals

Lab Rating
6.2/10
Model lean
Cardinals 72.2%
Market probability
48.3%
Model edge
+23.9%
Best moneyline
+107
Sportsbooks checked
9
LyDia model
72.2%
Market
48.3%

The case for St. Louis Cardinals

Starting pitcher edge: 27 points
LyDia gives Michael McGreevy a 27-point edge over David Sandlin, driven mainly by ERA (3.92 vs 6.93) and BB/9 (2.5 vs 4.4).
Bats are hot: +0.017 wOBA
St. Louis Cardinals 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 Chicago White Sox

Team strength favors Chicago White Sox
Before any pitcher or bullpen adjustment, LyDia's own team-strength model has Chicago White Sox ahead (45.6% to 45.6%). The pick still comes from St. Louis Cardinals once the pitcher and bullpen terms are applied.

Why it is not official

Setup quality below the bar
Lab Rating is 6.2/10, under the 7.2/10 required for an official pick.
Own bullpen carries risk: 10.0/10
The St. Louis Cardinals bullpen comes in high risk. A lead after six innings is less safe than usual.

Why the setup score is what it is

Conviction: 8.6/10
LyDia's win probability for St. Louis Cardinals (72.2%) is well clear of a coin flip -- this is a real, stated lean, not a guess.
Pitching plan: 20/40
Michael McGreevy rates 65 on LyDia's pitcher score, judged on its own merits (50-80 is the credited range). That is a strong start on its own, and it earns most or all of the available credit here.
Offense: 33.77/50
St. Louis Cardinals's recent offensive form clearly outpaces Chicago White Sox's over the tracked windows.

Why the price is what it is

Team strength: 45.6%
Before any pitcher or bullpen adjustment, LyDia's team-strength model alone makes St. Louis Cardinals 45.6% to win. Everything below moves the price from this starting point.
Pitcher score gap: 27 points
The pitcher-score gap favors St. Louis Cardinals by 27 points. This is the biggest single mover of the price -- a large gap moves it a lot, a small gap barely moves it.
Net effect: 45.6% -> 72.2%
Team strength alone had St. Louis Cardinals at 45.6%. After the pitcher and bullpen terms, the price is 72.2% -- the same number shown as Model Lean above.
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

MatchupChicago White Sox at St. Louis Cardinals
DateSunday, September 13, 2026
First pitch2:15 PM ET
VenueBusch Stadium
Starting pitchersDavid Sandlin vs Michael McGreevy
WeatherGame-time forecast: 83°F, 1% precipitation chance, 6 mph wind from NW.

Starting pitcher matchup

Full Pitcher Matchup Tool →
David SandlinWhite Sox · RHP
vs
Michael McGreevyCardinals · RHP
MetricWhite SoxCardinals
Pitching planTraditional starterTraditional starter
Expected innings5⅓5⅔
ThrowsRR
LyDia pitcher score (higher is better)3865
ERA (lower is better)6.933.92
WHIP (lower is better)1.381.25
K/9 (higher is better)8.86.2
K-BB% (higher is better)11.3%10.1%
K% (higher is better)22.6%16.7%
BB% (lower is better)11.3%6.6%
BB/9 (lower is better)4.42.5
HR/9 (lower is better)2.21.2
Ground-ball rate55.3%51.0%
Fly-ball rate44.7%49.0%

Pitcher edge: LyDia gives Michael McGreevy a 27-point edge over David Sandlin, driven mainly by ERA (3.92 vs 6.93) and BB/9 (2.5 vs 4.4).

How to read this: the scorecards above name the starters; every number lives in this table.

Strikeout Projections Full strikeout projections →

David Sandlin strikeouts
5.0 LyDia projected Ks
No strikeout line posted when this page was generated
Michael McGreevy strikeouts
5.1 LyDia projected Ks
No strikeout line posted when this page was generated

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

White Sox are 3-7 in their last 10 and averaging 3.3 runs per game over the last 15 days; Cardinals are 4-6 in their last 10 and averaging 5.8 runs per game over the last 15 days. Season run differential separates them by almost nothing (+0.24 against -0.06).

MetricWhite SoxCardinals
Last 103-74-6
Last 10 by venue (away team on the road, home team at home)5-5 on the road5-5 at home
OPS, last 15 days0.6330.747
wOBA, last 15 days (hot/cold read)0.2890.329
Runs per game, last 15 days3.35.8
K% last 15 days (lower is better)26.0%20.3%

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 daysWhite SoxCardinals
OPS0.7200.734 (+0.031 vs szn)
Runs per game4.29 (-0.403 vs szn)5.39 (+0.829 vs szn)
wOBA (model offense input)0.3210.323 (+0.011 vs szn)
K% (lower is better)24.3%21.8% (+1.2% vs szn)

Over the last 30 days the Cardinals have been the better offense, 0.323 wOBA to 0.321. They are running hot against their own season line (+0.011 wOBA). White Sox are striking out at 24.3% over the window — something the opposing starter can lean on.

Season profile

Full Stats page →
MetricWhite SoxCardinals
Record76-7273-76
Run differential / game (team quality)+0.24-0.06
Runs scored / game (offense, season)4.694.56
Runs allowed / game (defense, season, lower better)4.454.62
Season OPS0.7230.703
K% season (lower is better)24.0%20.7%
OPS vs opposing hand (season)0.7160.701

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. White Sox and Cardinals are highlighted.

White Sox
Combined risk
10.0 High risk
Fatigue
9.9 High risk
Efficiency
4.3 Below average
Cardinals
Combined risk
10.0 High risk
Fatigue
10.0 High risk
Efficiency
4.0 Below average

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.

MetricWhite SoxCardinals
Fatigue9.9/10, High risk10.0/10, High risk
Efficiency4.3/10, Below average4.0/10, Below average
Combined risk10.0/10, High risk10.0/10, High risk
Relief innings, last 7 days44.025.7
Back-to-back arms29
7-day ERA4.915.61
7-day WHIP1.451.40

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
11.0
Market total
8.5
Projected away runs
4.1
Projected home runs
6.0
Over price
-116
Under price
+105
Chicago White Sox team total
4.1 projected
Line Not available · O Not available / U Not available
Market line pending
St. Louis Cardinals team total
6.0 projected
Line Not available · O Not available / U Not available
Market line pending

The model projects 2.5 runs above the market total. A research lean still requires a setup rating of at least 7.0/10. Team totals remain research-only until their graded sample is established.

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