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Chicago White Sox vs St. Louis Cardinals Preview

CWS at STL 2026-09-13 preview: probable pitchers, projected lineups, NRFI/F5 model picks, weather, ballpark, and umpire context.

Chicago White Sox at St. Louis Cardinals MLB game preview for September 13, 2026
CWS
Chicago White Sox
David Sandlin RHP
@
2:15 PM ET
Busch Stadium
STL
St. Louis Cardinals
Michael McGreevy RHP
Last updated Sunday, September 13, 2026
Final This game has finished. Read the recap for final score, model grades, and box score.

Key Facts

Matchup
Chicago White Sox at St. Louis Cardinals
Date
Sunday, September 13, 2026
First Pitch
2:15 PM ET
Venue
Busch Stadium
Probable Starters
David Sandlin (RHP) vs Michael McGreevy (RHP)
Lineups
Confirmed
Odds Snapshot
Sep 13, 2:16 PM ET
Last Updated
Sep 13, 7:26 AM ET

Betting Board

Snapshot Sep 13, 2:16 PM ET
Moneyline
CWS -108
STL +108
Total
Over 8.5 -122
Under 8.5 +100
Run Line
CWS -1.5 +142
STL +1.5 -172

Model Angles

NRFI Model
YRFI · 49%
-3.2% edge
Projected Total
2.6
model combined runs
Park Factor
1.01
Neutral · HR 1.04
First Pitch Weather
81°F
7.6 mph NNW
The White Sox arrive at Busch Stadium without a listed starting pitcher, setting up a bullpen day against Michael McGreevy and the Cardinals. Chicago enters on a one-game winning streak at 76-72, while St. Louis sits three games under.500 at 73-76 after dropping its last game. The projected total reflects the unknown pitching matchup: 2.6 runs, with the model crediting St. Louis with all 2.6 and Chicago with zero. That's not a prediction that the White Sox won't score; it's a placeholder that signals the TBD starter creates too much uncertainty to model confidently. McGreevy brings a 3.92 ERA and 1.25 WHIP to the mound. The right-hander strikes out 6.19 per nine, a modest rate that doesn't overwhelm but has proven serviceable. His first-inning track record is sharp: a 77 percent NRFI rate across 30 games. That suggests early command and clean contact management, even if the strikeout upside is limited. The White Sox will counter with a mix of relievers, and while Chicago's bullpen shows no fatigue issues heading in, the absence of a traditional starter shifts the leverage calculus. Luis Castillo is unavailable for the White Sox. The NRFI sits at 47 percent probability with a minus-5.0 percent edge on the YRFI, pointing away from first-inning scoring in a matchup where one club has no listed starter. Busch Stadium has posted a 50 percent NRFI hit rate over its last ten games, with an average total of 8.9 runs and the Over cashing 43 percent of the time. The park factor of 1.01 is neutral. Conditions are mild: 83 degrees with a light 4 mph breeze from the west. Both bullpens enter fully rested at 100 out of 100, with Cooper Hjerpe unavailable for St. Louis.
  • White Sox enter with TBD starter, Cardinals counter McGreevy 3.92 ERA
  • McGreevy has logged 77% NRFI rate across 30 first-inning games
  • Model projects 2.6 total, NRFI at 47% with minus-5% YRFI edge

Pitching Matchup

CWS Away
RHP · 2-2 · 4 GS
ERA
5.64
WHIP
1.19
K/9
8.60
IP
30.1
Career: 5.64 ERA · 1.19 WHIP · 8.60 K/9
STL Home
Michael McGreevy
RHP · 7-9 · 29 GS
ERA
3.83
WHIP
1.24
K/9
6.30
IP
160.0
Career: 3.88 ERA · 1.21 WHIP · 6.07 K/9
NRFI: 70.0%
1st Inn ERA: 4.00

On the season, Michael McGreevy holds the ERA edge in this matchup. David Sandlin carries a 5.64 ERA and 1.19 WHIP, while Michael McGreevy sits at 3.83 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.
Strikeout rates: David Sandlin at 8.60 K/9, Michael McGreevy at 6.30 K/9.
K projections: David Sandlin at 3.5 (line 4.0)
Michael McGreevy projected at 3.2 (line 3.5).
Michael McGreevy has a 70.0% career NRFI rate. No first-inning data available for David Sandlin.
Both starters throw from the R side, limiting platoon splits for either lineup.

Strikeout Projections

David Sandlin vs STL
Proj: 3.5Line: 4.0
-0.5
Confidence:
Michael McGreevy vs CWS
Proj: 3.2Line: 3.5
-0.3
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.

David Sandlin (Chicago White Sox) is projected for 3.5 strikeouts against a posted line of 4.0. The projection is close to the line with no actionable edge.
He faces a moderate-K lineup that strikes out at 23.2% with a 28.0% whiff rate.

Michael McGreevy (St. Louis Cardinals) is projected for 3.2 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 23.7% with a 28.0% whiff rate.

The Chicago White Sox lineup is more vulnerable to strikeouts in this matchup. St. Louis Cardinals batters K at 23.2%, Chicago White Sox batters at 23.7%.

NRFI & First 5 Analysis

NRFI Model
48.7%
probability of YRFI
+-3.2%
market edge
Monitor
Market implied: 51.9%Model: 48.7%
First 5 Innings
1.4est. F5 runs
CWS
5.64 ERA
7.5 inn/start
STL
3.83 ERA
5.5 inn/start
F5 lean: Moderate STL
CWS K Projection
David Sandlin
3.5proj
Line: 4.0
-0.5 NEUTRAL
Confidence
STL K Projection
Michael McGreevy
3.2proj
Line: 3.5
-0.3 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 48.7% probability of no runs in the first inning, compared to the market's implied probability of 51.9%.

  • That creates a slim -3.2% edge on YRFI.
  • The best available line is NRFI -108 / YRFI -112 at FanDuel.
  • Home plate umpire Mike Estabrook runs a wide zone. See the umpire section below for full career data.
  • Our NRFI model sits at 154-138 (52.7%) on official picks this season.

Prop Edges

1 model signal detected
Home Run Elite 0.5
15.2%
See all today's picks and edges

Lineup & Matchup Breakdown

Chicago White Sox Confirmed
K%: 23.7
8Colson MontgomeryLSS
Whiff rate: 28.0%Team page
St. Louis Cardinals Confirmed
K%: 23.2
Whiff rate: 28.0%Team page
Batter vs Pitcher matchup tool

Lineups are confirmed as of this writing.

Chicago White Sox K vulnerability: 23.7% strikeout rate, 28.0% whiff rate.

St. Louis Cardinals K vulnerability: 23.2% strikeout rate, 28.0% whiff rate.

Ballpark, Weather & Umpire

Busch Stadium
Run Factor1.01
HR Factor1.04
Full park profile
Home Plate Umpire
Mike Estabrook
Slightly wide NRFI: 50.0% 8 games
Full umpire profile
Hourly Game Forecast
81°
2 PM
8 mph
NNW
84°
3 PM
6 mph
NNW
87°
4 PM
8 mph
NNW
87°
5 PM
8 mph
N
  • 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: 81F with 8 mph winds from the NNW. Humidity: 71%.
  • Temperature drops from 81F at first pitch to 87F by the late innings.
  • Home plate umpire: Mike Estabrook.
  • Career NRFI rate: 50.0% across 8 games tracked.
  • Zone tendency: Slightly wide.
  • K factor: 0.985 (league average strikeouts in his games).

Run Projections & Total

  • Our projection model puts the total at 2.6 combined runs, with Chicago White Sox projected for 0.0 and St. Louis Cardinals for 2.6.
  • That's 5.9 runs below the posted total of 8.5, suggesting a lean toward the Under.
  • The run projection favors St. Louis Cardinals by 2.6 runs.
The Bottom Line
The headline risk is obvious: Chicago has no listed starter, and the model refuses to project runs for a team deploying an unknown bullpen plan. McGreevy's 77 percent NRFI rate across 30 first-inning appearances is worth noting, but the NRFI edge is negative at minus-5.0 percent, and the overall probability sits below a coin flip at 47 percent. The projected total of 2.6 is a placeholder, not a bet signal. Both bullpens are fresh, but one club is leaning on its relievers from pitch one. Skip this one unless late-breaking starter news moves the line meaningfully.
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.