Cardinals vs Pirates Prediction 8/28/25 MLB Picks Today

The Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals meet Thursday in MLB action at Busch Stadium. Here’s a Cardinals vs Pirates Prediction. This article will include a Cardinals vs Pirates Pick.

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 59-75 on the year and play the Red Sox, Dodgers, and Brewers next. The Pittsburgh Pirates are batting .234 on the season, have a .305 OBP, and a .352 slugging percentage. The Pittsburgh Pirates pitching staff has a 3.93 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. Bryan Reynolds leads the Pittsburgh Pirates with 122 hits and 66 RBI, while Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Andrew McCutchen have combined for 201 hits and 84 RBI.

Braxton Ashcraft gets the ball for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he is 4-2 with a 2.70 ERA and 43 strikeouts this season. This will be Ashcraft’s first career game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

St. Louis Cardinals Betting Preview

The St. Louis Cardinals are 65-69 on the year and play the Reds, Athletics, and Giants next. The St. Louis Cardinals are batting .248 on the season, have a .317 OBP, and a .383 slugging percentage. The St. Louis Cardinals pitching staff has a 4.31 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Alec Burleson leads the St. Louis Cardinals with 123 hits and 60 RBI while Brendan Donovan and Masyn Winn have combined for 235 hits and 92 RBI.

Miles Mikolas gets the ball for the St. Louis Cardinals, and he is 6-10 with a 5.17 ERA and 81 strikeouts this season. Mikolas is 5-6 with a 3.00 ERA and 97 strikeouts in his career against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Why the St. Louis Cardinals will win

• The Cardinals have won each of their last six day games against the Pirates at Busch Stadium following a loss.
• The Pirates have lost each of their last five day games against the Cardinals following a road win.
• The Cardinals have covered the run line in four of their last five day games against the Pirates at Busch Stadium following a loss.
• The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in each of their last five Thursday day games.
• The Cardinals have led after 5 innings in five of their last six games as home favorites against NL Central opponents.
• The Cardinals have led after 3 innings in each of their last seven Thursday day games against opponents that held a losing record.

Why the Pittsburgh Pirates will win

• The Cardinals have lost four of their last five games as home favorites.
• The Pirates have won four of their last five games as underdogs against National League opponents following a road win.
• The Cardinals have failed to cover the run line each of their last eight home games against teams that held a losing record.
• The Pirates have covered the run line in each of their last seven games.
• The Pirates have won the first inning in five of their last six road games against National League opponents that held a losing record.
• The Pirates have led after 5 innings in each of their last six day games against National League opponents that held a losing record.
• The Pirates have led after 3 innings in six of their last seven road games against National League opponents that held a losing record.

St. Louis Cardinals Player Prop Facts

• Willson Contreras has hit a home run in four of the Cardinals’ last five Thursday games as favorites.
• Miles Mikolas has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his six previous Thursday day appearances against teams that held a losing record.
• Brendan Donovan has recorded a Double in three of the Cardinals’ last four day games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
• Brendan Donovan has recorded at least one hit in each of his 21 previous home appearances against the Pirates.

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts

• Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 Thursday day appearances with the Pirates as underdogs.
• Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one Double in five of the Pirates’ last six games as underdogs.
• Tommy Pham has hit a home run in two of his last three appearances in day games against teams that held a losing record.
• Oneil Cruz ranks T4th in the league in Steals (34) this season.

Cardinals vs Pirates Prediction

The Pirates aren’t a good team, but they’re playing well over the last two weeks. Ashcraft has also been a respectable pitcher, which includes allowing 17 hits and seven runs in his last 17.2 innings. In 23.2 road innings, Ashcraft has a 2.28 ERA and .205 allowed batting average. Mikolas hasn’t had a good season, and he’s allowed 25 hits and 14 earned runs in his last 17.1 innings. Mikolas has more walks than strikeouts in the month of August. The value is with the Pirates and the plus money.