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Seattle Mariners vs St. Louis Cardinals Preview

Seattle Mariners visit St. Louis Cardinals at 2:15 PM ET. Emerson Hancock faces Michael McGreevy as Seattle rides a three-game win streak

Seattle Mariners at St. Louis Cardinals MLB game preview for April 26, 2026
SEA
Seattle Mariners
Emerson Hancock RHP
@
2:15 PM ET
Busch Stadium
STL
St. Louis Cardinals
Michael McGreevy RHP
Last updated Sunday, April 26, 2026
Final This game has finished. Read the recap for final score, model grades, and box score.

Key Facts

Matchup
Seattle Mariners at St. Louis Cardinals
Date
Sunday, April 26, 2026
First Pitch
2:15 PM ET
Venue
Busch Stadium
Probable Starters
Emerson Hancock (RHP) vs Michael McGreevy (RHP)
Lineups
Probable
Odds Snapshot
Apr 26, 2:16 PM ET
Last Updated
Apr 26, 11:10 AM ET

Betting Board

Snapshot Apr 26, 2:16 PM ET
Moneyline
SEA -130
STL +120
Total
Over 8.5 -110
Under 8.5 -110
Run Line
SEA -1.5 +126
STL +1.5 -152

Model Angles

NRFI Model
YRFI · 40%
-12.4% edge
Projected Total
2.8
model combined runs
Park Factor
1.01
Neutral · HR 1.04
First Pitch Weather
78°F
9.5 mph SE
The Seattle Mariners visit Busch Stadium on Thursday afternoon to face the St. Louis Cardinals in a 2:15 PM ET matchup. Seattle enters riding a three-game winning streak and holding a 13-15 record, while St. Louis sits at 14-12 after dropping three consecutive games. Right-hander Emerson Hancock takes the ball for the Mariners with a 2.83 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 8.79 strikeouts per nine innings. He faces Cardinals right-hander Michael McGreevy, who carries a 3.29 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 4.94 strikeouts per nine. Hancock is projected for 5.1 strikeouts against a line of 4.5, while McGreevy projects at 4.2 against a 3.5 line. The weather forecast calls for 77 degrees with an 8 mph wind from the southeast. Busch Stadium has a 1.01 runs park factor.
  • Mariners riding three-game winning streak at 13-15
  • Cardinals on three-game losing skid at 14-12
  • Hancock posts 2.83 ERA with 8.79 strikeouts per nine

Pitching Matchup

SEA Away
Emerson Hancock
RHP · 2-1 · 6 GS
ERA
2.86
WHIP
0.98
K/9
8.31
IP
34.2
Career: 4.47 ERA · 1.29 WHIP · 6.43 K/9
NRFI: 61.9%
1st Inn ERA: 7.03
STL Home
Michael McGreevy
RHP · 1-2 · 6 GS
ERA
2.97
WHIP
0.90
K/9
5.67
IP
33.1
Career: 3.73 ERA · 1.11 WHIP · 5.74 K/9
NRFI: 57.9%
1st Inn ERA: 4.74

On the season, Emerson Hancock holds the ERA edge in this matchup. Emerson Hancock carries a 2.86 ERA and 0.98 WHIP, while Michael McGreevy sits at 2.97 ERA and 0.90 WHIP.
Strikeout rates: Emerson Hancock at 8.31 K/9, Michael McGreevy at 5.67 K/9.
K projections: Emerson Hancock at 5.1 (line 4.5)
Michael McGreevy projected at 4.2 (line 3.5).
First-inning scoring: Emerson Hancock holds a 61.9% career NRFI rate, Michael McGreevy at 57.9%. Combined average: 59.9%.
Both starters throw from the R side, limiting platoon splits for either lineup.

Strikeout Projections

Emerson Hancock vs STL
Proj: 5.1Line: 4.5
+0.6
Confidence:
Michael McGreevy vs SEA
Proj: 4.2Line: 3.5
+0.7
Confidence:
View all K projections on SlateIQ

Our strikeout model weighs pitcher K rate, opponent lineup whiff tendency, park factors, and umpire zone size to project total strikeouts per starter.

Emerson Hancock (Seattle Mariners) is projected for 5.1 strikeouts against a posted line of 4.5. The projection is close to the line with no actionable edge.
He faces a moderate-K lineup that strikes out at 22.0% with a 28.0% whiff rate.

Michael McGreevy (St. Louis Cardinals) is projected for 4.2 strikeouts against a posted line of 3.5. The projection is close to the line with no actionable edge.
He faces a moderate-K lineup that strikes out at 22.0% with a 28.0% whiff rate.

The Seattle Mariners lineup is more vulnerable to strikeouts in this matchup. St. Louis Cardinals batters K at 22.0%, Seattle Mariners batters at 22.0%.

NRFI & First 5 Analysis

NRFI Model
40.0%
probability of YRFI
+-12.4%
market edge
Monitor
Market implied: 52.4%Model: 40.0%
First 5 Innings
1.6est. F5 runs
SEA
2.86 ERA
5.7 inn/start
STL
2.97 ERA
5.5 inn/start
F5 lean: Even matchup
SEA K Projection
Emerson Hancock
5.1proj
Line: 4.5
+0.6 NEUTRAL
Confidence
STL K Projection
Michael McGreevy
4.2proj
Line: 3.5
+0.7 NEUTRAL
Confidence
Explore all model projections

Our NRFI model analyzes both starting pitchers' first-inning profiles, the top-of-order hitters in each lineup, the umpire's historical zone, and environmental factors to produce a probability estimate. For this game, the model assigns a 40.0% probability of no runs in the first inning, compared to the market's implied probability of 52.4%.

  • That creates a slim -12.4% edge on YRFI.
  • The best available line is NRFI -110 / YRFI -110 at FanDuel.
  • Home plate umpire John Bacon runs a wide zone. See the umpire section below for full career data.
  • Our NRFI model sits at 28-27 (50.9%) on official picks this season.

Prop Edges

3 model signals detected
Hits (1+) Lean Hit 0.5
66.6%
Home Run Elite 0.5
20.6%
Home Run Elite 0.5
16%
See all today's picks and edges

Lineup & Matchup Breakdown

Seattle Mariners Projected
K%: 22.0
Projected batting order unavailable. This will update when probable or confirmed lineup data is available.
Whiff rate: 28.0%Team page
St. Louis Cardinals Projected
2Iván HerreraRC
5Nolan GormanLDH
Batter vs Pitcher matchup tool

Lineups are probable as of this writing.

St. Louis Cardinals K vulnerability: 22.0% strikeout rate, 28.0% whiff rate.

Ballpark, Weather & Umpire

Busch Stadium
Run Factor1.01
HR Factor1.04
Full park profile
Home Plate Umpire
John Bacon
Slightly wide NRFI: 47.7% 65 games
Full umpire profile
Hourly Game Forecast
78°
2 PM
10 mph
SE
78°
3 PM
8 mph
SE
79°
4 PM
9 mph
SE
79°
5 PM
10 mph
SE
  • Busch Stadium carries a 1.01 run factor (neutral).
  • Home run factor: 1.04 — the park neutral for HR power.
  • Park notes: Retractable roof; Relatively neutral dimensions; Gateway Arch viewable from stadium.
  • Roof: Retractable.
  • First pitch forecast: 78F with 10 mph winds from the SE. Humidity: 51%.
  • Wind advisory: 10 mph winds from the SE may impact fly balls.
  • Home plate umpire: John Bacon.
  • Career NRFI rate: 47.7% across 65 games tracked.
  • Zone tendency: Slightly wide.
  • K factor: 0.977 (below average strikeouts in his games).

Run Projections & Total

  • Our projection model puts the total at 2.8 combined runs, with Seattle Mariners projected for 0.0 and St. Louis Cardinals for 2.8.
  • That's 5.7 runs below the posted total of 8.5, suggesting a lean toward the Under.
  • The run projection favors St. Louis Cardinals by 2.8 runs.
The Bottom Line
Seattle brings momentum with three straight wins while St. Louis looks to snap a three-game slide. Hancock holds the edge in strikeout rate and overall numbers compared to McGreevy. The projected total sits at 2.8 runs in favorable 77-degree conditions.
This preview is generated from thecapper.io projection models and publicly available data. All projections are model estimates, not guarantees. Gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.