The “Cardinals vs Giants” rivalry, a staple of National League West lore, is reigniting passions in the final week of the 2025 MLB regular season. On September 22, the St. Louis Cardinals edged out the San Francisco Giants 6-5 in a thriller at Oracle Park, pushing the Giants further from playoff contention and highlighting the Cardinals’ knack for gritty comebacks. With the Giants now at 77-80 and trailing the Mets and Reds by 3.5 games for the final NL Wild Card spot, only five contests remaining, this loss feels like a season-ender, while St. Louis (82-75) stays alive in the mix. Broadcast on MLB Network with 1.2 million viewers, the game showcased offensive fireworks, defensive miscues, and a bullpen battle that kept fans on edge until the ninth. As searches for “Cardinals vs Giants” spike amid the playoff push, this blog breaks down the action, key performances, and implications for both clubs, offering insights for baseball enthusiasts tracking the September sprint.
Rivalry Roots: The Cardinals vs Giants Historical Edge
The “Cardinals vs Giants” matchup traces back to 1883, when the teams first clashed in the National League, evolving into one of baseball’s most storied feuds through eras of dominance and heartbreak. From the Giants’ New York glory days, capped by Bobby Thomson’s 1951 “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” that crushed St. Louis hopes, to the California move in 1958, which intensified West Coast tension, this series has produced 1,200+ games and countless classics.
Defining Moments That Shaped the Series
Over decades, pivotal plays have defined the rivalry’s intensity:
- 1951 NL Pennant Race: Thomson’s homer off Ralph Branca in Game 3 of the playoff series propelled the Giants to the World Series, a gut punch for the Cardinals, and a moment etched in baseball immortality.
- 1982 NLCS: St. Louis rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win the pennant, with Joaquin Andujar’s heroics symbolizing the Cardinals’ “Runnin’ Redbirds” style against San Francisco’s aging squad.
- 2014 Wild Card Game: The Giants’ 3-2 extra-innings victory over St. Louis, sealed by Travis Ishikawa’s walk-off, launched their third title in five years and remains a fresh wound for Cardinal fans.
These encounters have averaged 4.8 runs per game since 2000, blending pitching duels with timely hitting; traits on full display Monday. The Giants hold a slight all-time edge (650-550), but St. Louis has won 55% of meetings since 2010, underscoring their modern mastery.
Game Recap: A Fifth-Inning Explosion Turns the Tide
Monday’s opener unfolded as a pitcher’s duel turned into an offensive slugfest, with the Giants jumping ahead early only for the Cardinals to unleash a decisive fifth. Justin Verlander, in his Giants tenure after a midseason trade, delivered flashes of vintage form but faltered under pressure, allowing six runs in 4 1/3 innings; his worst since joining San Francisco. Michael McGreevy, the Cardinals’ young righty, weathered a rocky start to toss five innings of five-run ball, setting up a bullpen that closed strong.
Early Innings Giants Take Command
The Giants struck first in the bottom of the first when Heliot Ramos crushed a 92-mph fastball from McGreevy for a leadoff homer, his 19th of the season, giving San Francisco a 1-0 edge. St. Louis answered in the third with José Fermín’s RBI double scoring Alec Burleson, tying it at 1-1 after Verlander’s sharp 6-2-5-4 double play snuffed a Giants threat in the second; Cardinals manager Carlos Marmol’s heated argument over a potential hit-by-pitch on Jordan Walker added spice.
The fourth belonged to San Francisco: Ramos delivered a two-run single with bases loaded, capping a rally that put the Giants up 4-2. Ramos, in a breakout year, extended his multi-hit streak to three games, showcasing the power-speed combo that has him eyeing 20 homers and 20 steals.
Pivotal Fifth Cardinals’ Comeback Ignites
The game’s hinge swung in the fifth, where Verlander’s command slipped. Rafael Devers’ leadoff homer for the Giants made it 5-2, but St. Louis exploded for four runs: Iván Herrera’s two-run blast tied it at 5-5, followed by Casey Schmitt’s error at second, allowing the go-ahead run, and Walker’s RBI groundout, sealing a 6-5 lead. Verlander, who entered with a 0.36 ERA over his prior four starts, absorbed the damage on nine hits, exiting to a smattering of boos from the Oracle Park crowd of 38,742.
- Herrera’s Heroics: The young catcher’s homer, his eighth, came on a hanging slider, flipping momentum and highlighting St. Louis’ depth behind the plate.
- Defensive Lapse Impact: Schmitt’s misplay on a routine grounder proved costly, extending the inning and underscoring San Francisco’s 12 errors in September.
- Verlander’s Struggles: The 42-year-old’s velocity dipped to 92 mph average, a tick below his season norm, raising questions about his playoff readiness if the Giants somehow rally.
JoJo Romero’s 1-2-3 ninth earned his eighth save, stranding Matt Chapman after a leadoff walk.
Player Performances Stars and Struggles Shine Through
Standouts emerged amid the chaos, with Ramos carrying the Giants’ offense and Herrera providing the Cardinals’ spark. Verlander’s line (6 R, 9 H in 4 1/3 IP) contrasted McGreevy’s resilience (5 R, 6 H in 5 IP), while bullpens traded punches; St. Louis’ four pitchers after McGreevy allowed zero runs.
Giants’ Offensive Firepower
Heliot Ramos led the charge, going 3-for-4 with a homer, two RBI, and three runs scored; his 40th multi-hit game tied a franchise mark last matched by Buster Posey in 2017. Devers added his 28th homer, but the lineup’s .250 average with RISP (2-for-8) left chances untaken.
- Ramos’ Breakout: The 25-year-old outfielder’s slash line (.265/.330/.450) positions him as San Francisco’s cornerstone, blending plate discipline with extra-base pop.
- Devers’ Clutch Power: The third baseman’s fifth-inning solo shot extended his 15-game hitting streak, a bright spot in a fading season.
- Eldridge’s Debut: Top prospect Bryce Eldridge, 20 years and 337 days old, DH’d in his home debut; the youngest Giants position player at Oracle since Madison Bumgarner in 2010; going 0-for-3 but drawing a walk in his first MLB plate appearances.
Cardinals’ Balanced Attack
Iván Herrera’s two-run homer proved the difference, while Fermín’s two doubles drove in a run, bolstering St. Louis’ .278 team average in September. Jordan Walker’s groundout RBI capped the rally, and the lineup’s .320 OBP exploited Giants pitching.
- Herrera’s Emergence: The 24-year-old backstop’s .275 average and eight homers make him a trade chip or future anchor, especially after Willson Contreras’ injury-plagued year.
- Fermín’s Utility: The infielder’s doubles highlighted his .290 average against lefties, adding versatility to a Cardinals bench that’s overperformed.
- McGreevy’s Grit: The rookie’s 8-3 record belies his 4.15 ERA, but snapping an 11-inning scoreless streak against a potent lineup shows poise.
Standing Implications: Giants on the Brink, Cardinals Stay Afloat
This defeat drops the Giants to 77-80, 3.5 games back of the Mets and Reds with five to play; needing a miracle sweep and help to sneak into the Wild Card. St. Louis improves to 82-75, holding a slim tiebreaker edge over Cincinnati and staying two games behind Atlanta for the final spot, vital with a favorable schedule ahead.
Giants’ Fading Hopes
San Francisco’s homestand, six games against St. Louis and the Padres, loomed as a must-win stretch, but Monday’s loss amplifies rotation woes with Logan Webb’s next start looming.
- Playoff Odds Plunge: From 12% pre-series to under 5%, per FanGraphs, with tiebreakers favoring the Mets.
- Key Injuries: Patrick Bailey’s wrist tweak and Thairo Estrada’s absence strain the infield, contributing to Schmitt’s error.
- Bright Spots: Ramos’ surge offers optimism for 2026, but the front office eyes a rebuild around young arms like Kyle Harrison.
Cardinals’ Push for October
St. Louis’ win keeps them breathing, with a 55% playoff probability intact; bolstered by a hot September (18-9).
- Wild Card Positioning: Two games back, with series against weak foes like the Nationals next; ideal for surging.
- Bullpen Strength: Romero’s save and Ryan Helsley’s 35 holds underscore a unit that’s 28th in ERA but clutch in close games.
- Trade Deadline Boosts: Additions like Fermín and Burleson have stabilized the lineup, masking Nolan Arenado’s slump.
Looking Ahead: Tuesday’s Pitching Rematch Sets the Tone
Game 2 features Andre Pallante (6-14, 5.23 ERA) for St. Louis against Logan Webb (14-11, 3.27 ERA), a matchup favoring the Giants’ ace but testing Pallante’s road splits (5.80 ERA away). Expect Webb to rebound from a recent clunker, potentially keeping San Francisco alive with a quality start.
- Pallante’s Upside: The 25-year-old’s sinker induces ground balls (48% rate), key against a Giants lineup grounded into double plays at a league-high clip.
- Webb’s Ace Factor: San Francisco’s staff leader boasts a 2.45 ERA at home, with 150 strikeouts; his gem could halve the deficit.
- Series Stakes: A Cardinals sweep buries the Giants; a Giants win buys time, though math remains unforgiving.
The “Cardinals vs Giants” saga embodies baseball’s late-season tension: resilience versus regret. As Oracle Park’s fog rolls in on Tuesday, will St. Louis clinch a spot or grant San Francisco one last gasp? For fans, it’s a reminder of why September baseball captivates: every pitch carries the weight of what might have been.
