In an upcoming MLB game on Monday, July 8th, the St. Louis Cardinals will take on the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Based on recent form and player performances, betting trends, and historical matchups, the Cardinals are predicted to come out on top.

The Cardinals showcased their strength on Sunday, securing a five-run victory after scoring eight runs. With an average of 4.03 runs per game, the Cardinals' offense is ranked 24th in the league. On the pitching front, they have been allowing an average of 4.54 runs per game, ranking 20th. Notably, Nolan Gorman has had an impressive season so far, hitting 17 home runs and driving in 43 RBIs. The Cardinals' starting pitcher for the game will be Miles Mikolas, who holds a 6-7 record and an ERA of 5.19. In his last start against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Mikolas gave up only two runs over six innings.

Analyzing recent betting trends, the Nationals have struggled in their last five games as home favorites against NL Central opponents, losing four of them. On the other hand, the Cardinals have emerged victoriously in four of their last five matchups against the Nationals. Additionally, the Nationals have failed to cover the run line in eight of their last 10 games as home favorites against NL Central opponents. Contrastingly, the Cardinals have successfully covered the run line in six of their last seven games as underdogs against the Nationals following a win.

The Nationals experienced pitching woes in their most recent game, falling to an 8-3 defeat. Starter DJ Herz pitched for 4.1 innings, conceding four runs on five hits. With an average of 4.25 runs per game, the Nationals' offense is ranked 17th in the league, while their pitching ranks 16th, allowing an average of 4.38 runs per game. CJ Abrams has been a standout performer for the Nationals this season, hitting 14 home runs and tallying 46 RBIs. The Nationals will hand the start to Mitchell Parker, who holds a 5-4 record and an ERA of 3.61. In his previous outing against the New York Mets, Parker gave up five runs over six innings.

Considering all the factors, the Cardinals are projected to have the upper hand in this matchup. With the Nationals' pitching struggles and the Cardinals' relatively stronger offensive performance, it is expected that the Nationals' offense will face difficulties. While the Cardinals are anticipated to win by a couple of runs, betting experts suggest taking a safer approach and backing the Cardinals on the money line.

The game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Washington Nationals promises to be an exciting showdown. Fans eagerly await to see if the Cardinals' predicted advantage will translate to victory on the field.