The Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals will face off in a Spring Training game on March 12, 2023, at 1:05 PM, at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Sarasota, Florida. The Cardinals are the favorites in this matchup, with a line of -195, while the Nationals come in at +160.

Both teams have shown flashes of brilliance in Spring Training, but they have also experienced their share of struggles. This game could go either way, but let's take a closer look at each team and make an informed pick for this game.

Washington Nationals

Hitting:

The Nationals have had a mixed bag of results in hitting during Spring Training. As a team, they are hitting .245, which is 19th in the league. They have scored 46 runs in 11 games, which is tied for 23rd in the league. The good news is that they have several players who are performing well at the plate.

Brendan Donovan has been the standout hitter for the Nationals this Spring. He is hitting .308 with four home runs and 10 RBIs. He has been a force in the middle of the lineup and will be a player to watch in this game.

Pitching:

The Nationals pitching staff has had its share of struggles this Spring. As a team, they have a 4.39 ERA, which is 20th in the league. They have given up 31 walks in 11 games, which is tied for 17th in the league.

Despite the team struggles, there have been some bright spots in the Nationals' pitching staff. Matt Cronin has been a standout in the bullpen, with a 0.00 ERA in five innings pitched. Jackson Rutledge has also impressed, with a 1.80 ERA in five innings pitched.

St. Louis Cardinals

Hitting:

The Cardinals' offense has been impressive this Spring, with a team batting average of .270, which is 5th in the league. They have scored 66 runs in 13 games, which is tied for 5th in the league. The Cardinals have several players who are performing well at the plate.

Brendan Donovan is the standout hitter for the Cardinals this Spring. He is hitting .308 with four home runs and 10 RBIs. He has been a force in the middle of the lineup and will be a player to watch in this game.

Pitching:

The Cardinals' pitching staff has been a mixed bag this Spring. As a team, they have a 4.75 ERA, which is tied for 26th in the league. They have given up 34 walks in 13 games, which is tied for 22nd in the league.

Despite the team struggles, there have been some bright spots in the Cardinals' pitching staff. Angel Rondon has been a standout in the bullpen, with a 0.00 ERA in six innings pitched. Dakota Hudson has also impressed, with a 1.50 ERA in six innings pitched.

Injuries:

Both teams have had their share of injuries this Spring. The Nationals have several players who are day-to-day, including Andy Ibanez, Matt Vierling, and Tyler Nevin. The Cardinals have two players out, including Jose Fermin and Jordan Walker.

Prediction:

This game could go either way, but we have to give the edge to the Cardinals for this game. They have been playing better overall in the spring and have a stronger batting lineup. The Nationals have struggled with injuries, and while their pitching has been solid, they may not have enough offense to keep up with the Cardinals.

Pick: Cardinals ML