Pirates vs Cardinals Prediction 4/8/25 MLB Picks Today

In this article, we will formulate a Pirates vs Cardinals prediction for this MLB game on Tuesday, April 8th at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup. 

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 4-7 this year after they won game one by a score of 8-4 on Monday. Pittsburgh jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first two innings, and they added four more in the seventh to seal the win. The Pirates recorded 10 hits and committed one error while they were led by McCutchen, Bart, and Kiner-Falefa, who all had two RBIs in the win. Pittsburgh started Mlodzinski, who allowed five hits and one earned run over 5.0 innings for the win, while Harrington pitched the last four innings and got the save. 

Prior to this series, the Pirates lost two out of three games against the Yankees and two out of three against the Rays. The Pittsburgh pitching staff has a 4.89 ERA with a 1.45 WHIP and a .266 opponent batting average, while the offense has scored 40 runs with a .207 batting average and a .294 on-base percentage this season. Oneil Cruz has led Pittsburgh with two home runs and five RBIs, while Bryan Reynolds has added one home run and five RBIs this year. The projected starting pitcher for Pittsburgh is Paul Skenes, who is 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA and a 0.65 WHIP over 12.1 innings pitched this season. 

St. Louis Cardinals Betting Preview

The St. Louis Cardinals are 4-6 this season after they dropped the first game in this series on Monday night. St. Louis cut the deficit to 4-2 in the sixth inning, but they fell apart in the seventh, before adding two more runs in the eighth and ninth. The Cardinals recorded nine hits, and they committed one error in the game, while they were led by Donovan, Walker, Pozo, and Winn, who all had one RBI in the loss. St. Louis started Liberatore, who allowed eight hits and five earned runs over 6.1 innings pitched, while Roycroft allowed two hits and three earned runs in just 0.2 innings of relief. 

Prior to this series, the Cardinals were swept in three games by the Red Sox and lost two out of three against the Angels. The St. Louis pitching staff has a 6.18 ERA with a 1.39 WHIP and a .261 opponent batting average, while their offense has scored 66 runs with a .297 batting average and a .374 on-base percentage this season. Brendan Donovan has led St. Louis with two home runs and nine RBIs, while Lars Nootbaar has added two home runs and six RBIs this year. The projected starting pitcher for St. Louis is Sonny Gray, who is 1-0 with a 5.73 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP over 11.0 innings pitched this season. 

Why the Pirates will beat the Cardinals

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

Total Runs Facts

• Eight of the Cardinals’ last nine games after playing the previous day have gone OVER the total runs line.
• Each of the Pirates’ last four games have gone OVER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in 16 of the last 17 games between the Cardinals and Pirates.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in seven of the Cardinals’ last eight games against NL Central opponents.

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts

• Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one Double in each of the Pirates’ last three games as home favorites.
• Adam Frazier has recorded at least one Single in each of his last seven appearances with the Pirates as favorites against NL Central opponents.
• Oneil Cruz has recorded an RBI in seven of his last eight appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
• Tommy Pham has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 home appearances against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
• Bryan Reynolds has hit a home run in each of the Pirates’ last two games as home favorites against NL Central opponents.
• Joey Bart has scored at least one run in eight of his last nine appearances with the Pirates as home favorites against NL opponents.

St. Louis Cardinals Player Prop Facts

• Brendan Donovan has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Cardinals’ last four road games against opponents that held a losing record.
• Sonny Gray has recorded six or more strikeouts in each of his last 16 appearances against NL Central opponents.
• Nolan Arenado has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 15 appearances.
• Masyn Winn has hit a home run in two of the Cardinals’ last three games against the Pirates.
• Masyn Winn has scored at least one run in each of his last nine road appearances.
• Nolan Arenado has recorded a Double in each of his last four appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
• Brendan Donovan has recorded at least one Single in each of the Cardinals’ last nine games as underdogs.

Pirates vs Cardinals Prediction 

St. Louis comes into this matchup trying to snap a four-game losing streak, and they have really struggled with their pitching, as they have allowed 8, 18, 5, and 13 runs in their last four games. Pittsburgh has won two games in a row, but their pitching staff has also had plenty of issues so far. On the bright side for the Pirates, they are starting Paul Skenes, who is one of the top pitchers in the NL and has been very good through two starts. I know this St. Louis team can hit the ball, but I have to back Skenes at a reasonable number.