St. Louis Cardinals vs Arizona Diamondbacks Picks and Prediction for Saturday July 18 2026
Use Code WWWC On Saturday, the St. Louis Cardinals (50–45) head to Phoenix to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks (49–47) at Chase Field. With the second half of the season getting underway, both teams are hovering just above .500 and right in the thick of the playoff race, making this matchup an important one as they try to gain ground in the standings. Get involved in the action with our free MLB picks.
St. Louis vs. Arizona Game Information
- July 18, 2026
- 4:10 PM EST
- Chase Field
- Cardinals.TV/DBACKS.TV/MLB.TV/Fubo
Arizona Form & Recent Results
Arizona heads into this matchup playing some of its best baseball of the season. The Diamondbacks ride a four-game winning streak into Saturday and have taken four of their last five games overall to close out the first half, setting a confident tone heading into Friday. A big chunk of that momentum came on the road, where they pulled off an impressive sweep of the Dodgers in Los Angeles, which is never an easy place to win, let alone win three straight. They also grabbed a win in San Diego against the Padres, showing they can handle strong opponents away from home. Now, with that recent success behind them, Arizona will try to keep the good vibes going as they host the Cardinals in the second game of the series.
One of their most recent highlights was last Sunday’s 5–3 road win over the Dodgers. In that game, first baseman Tim Tawa contributed with a 1-for-4 day that included a home run, a run scored, and an RBI, exactly the kind of timely production that can swing a close matchup. On the mound, starter Mitch Bratt had a tougher outing, working three innings while giving up three hits and three earned runs, along with three walks and no strikeouts. Even so, the offense did enough, finishing with five hits, one homer, and ten total bases. Over the full season, Ketel Marte has been Arizona’s most consistent power and run-producing threat, leading the team with 17 home runs and 54 RBIs, while Corbin Carroll is right behind him with 13 homers. For batting average, Ildemaro Vargas currently tops the roster at .258. The Diamondbacks have also been scoring at a strong clip lately, averaging about six runs per game over their last five contests, which helps explain why they’ve been winning more often than not. In July they’re 6–5, and over their last 15 games they’re 8–7, solid numbers that reflect a team trending upward at the right time.
St. Louis Form & Recent Results
St. Louis comes into this matchup trying to shake off a one-game skid, but the bigger picture is that they’ve played fairly solid baseball lately. Before Friday’s loss, the Cardinals had won three of their previous five games, and those wins weren’t flukes, where they took two games at home against the Braves and also grabbed a home win over the Brewers. Even in their 4–3 loss to Atlanta last Sunday, St. Louis showed some fight. Right fielder Jordan Walker had a productive day at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a walk, a single, and two runs scored, finding ways to get on base and create offense even in a tight game.
Get Free $30 Credit for Premium Picks + Exclusive Discounts
Subscribe Now
Walker has been the engine of the lineup for most of the season, leading the team in several key categories. He tops the Cardinals in home runs with 22, and he’s also their RBI leader with 74, showing he’s not just hitting for power but driving in runs consistently. On top of that, Walker leads St. Louis in batting average at .294, giving them a reliable hitter who can do damage in multiple ways. Behind him, first baseman Alec Burleson has provided additional pop, sitting second on the team with 15 home runs. Offensively, the Cardinals have averaged 3.6 runs per game over their last five, so they’ll be looking to raise that number as they open the second half. They also have some momentum to build on, especially with Walker coming off a Home Run Derby win that could give him and the team a confidence boost moving forward. Overall, St. Louis is 6–7 in July and 8–7 over their last 15 games, which reflects a team that’s been competitive, even if they haven’t fully caught fire yet.
Key Stats
- St. Louis’ Jordan Walker this season: 22 HRs, 74 RBI, .294 AVG
- Arizona’s Ketel Marte this season: 17 HRs, 54 RBI, .256 AVG
Betting Odds & Market Overview:
- ARI -120 / STL +100; O/U 9
St. Louis vs. Arizona Picks and Prediction
The Cardinals and Diamondbacks are right in the middle of a tight playoff chase, and they’ll go head-to-head again Saturday night in Phoenix for the second game of their series. Arizona comes into the second half with plenty of momentum after sweeping the Dodgers in a three-game set in Los Angeles, an impressive statement on the road, and they’ll be looking to ride that energy and keep stacking wins. Final Score Prediction, Arizona Diamondbacks win 7-2.
Never Tried Winners and Whiners? Now Is Your Chance
- Get your first daily picks package for ONLY $1 using coupon code DOLLAR
- If the pick loses, we credit your account with 3 Flex Picks
- If the pick wins, we still give you 1 Flex Pick on the house
- Win or lose, you walk away ahead. One dollar. No catch.
- Check out more MLB predictions
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days
