Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals MLB Picks, Odds, Predictions 6/24/2021

The Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals meet Thursday in MLB action from Busch Stadium. The Pirates are coming off a pair of games versus the White Sox. Pittsburgh won the first installment, then on Wednesday the Pirates fell in a tough one. As for the Cardinals, they played the Tigers this week. St. Louis lost the Tuesday game, then on Wednesday the Cards dropped another one by four runs. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place. 

Pittsburgh posted four runs in the seventh inning Tuesday against the Sox and were able to power out a 6-3 comeback victory. In the Wednesday game, the Pirates gave up two runs in the fifth and never got it back in a 4-3 defeat. Starter Chase De Jong put up 4.2 innings with four earned on seven hits and two walks. 

For Thursday’s starter outing, the Pirates are sending Chad Kuhl to the mound. Over his 35.0 innings this year, Kuhl has 30 hits, 27 runs (22 earned), five homers allowed, 22 walks, 27 Ks and a 5.66 ERA. 

Over on the Cardinals’ side, they coughed up six runs in the fourth inning Tuesday versus the Tigers, resulting in an 8-2 defeat. In the Wednesday game, St. Louis had an early 2-0 lead but gave up six unanswered in a 6-2 loss. John Gant went just 3.0 innings with three earned and four walks. 

For the starter job in the Thursday game, the Cardinals are going with Carlos Martinez. Over 68.0 innings of work this year, Martinez has 67 hits, 51 runs (50 earned), six homers allowed, 26 walks, 47 Ks and a 6.62 ERA. 

The Pirates are 5-11 in their last 16 in game one of a series and 17-54 in their last 71 road games. Pittsburgh is 6-20 in their last 26 road games versus a team with a losing record and the over is 4-0 in their last four Thursday games. 

Meanwhile, the Cardinals are 56-26 in their last 82 versus a team with a winning percentage below .400 and 2-7 in their last nine versus a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30. St. Louis is 1-6 in their last seven in game one of a series and the under is 5-0 in their last five Thursday games. 

PICK: I’m going to take a stab on the Pirates, but probably staying away. Neither one of these teams has been doing great lately, and the offense has been sorely lacking on both sides. Martinez gave up eight earned on eight hits in 3.0 innings his last time up. As for Kuhl, he had five earned in 3.1 innings versus the Brewers but bounced back with a nice start his last time up. I think Kuhl will match up well against the Cardinals offense.