The St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates meet Thursday in MLB action at PNC Park. Here’s a Pirates vs. Cardinals Prediction. This article will include a Pirates vs. Cardinals Pick.
St. Louis Cardinals Betting Preview
The St. Louis Cardinals are 77-81 on the year and play the Brewers next. The St. Louis Cardinals are batting .241 on the season, with a .314 OBP and a .380 slugging percentage. The St. Louis Cardinals’ pitching staff has a 4.28 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Alec Burleson leads the St. Louis Cardinals with 165 hits and 111 RBI, while Jordan Walker and Ivan Herrera have combined for 305 hits and 168 RBI.
Kyle Leahy gets the ball for the St. Louis Cardinals, and he is 10-5 with a 3.65 ERA and 129 strikeouts this season. Leahy is 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA and 25 strikeouts in his career against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
The Pittsburgh Pirates are 80-78 this year and play the Tigers next. The Pittsburgh Pirates are batting .254 on the season, with a .331 OBP and a .405 slugging percentage. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitching staff has a 4.16 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Nick Gonzales leads the Pittsburgh Pirates with 162 hits and 60 RBI, while Bryan Reynolds and Brandon Lowe have combined for 301 hits and 164 RBI.
Paul Skenes gets the ball for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he is 10-11 with a 3.91 ERA and 192 strikeouts this season. Skenes is 0-5 with a 2.74 ERA and 50 strikeouts in his career against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Why the Pittsburgh Pirates will win
- The Cardinals have lost seven of their last eight road games following a win.
- The Pirates have won each of their last five day games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Pirates have covered the run line in each of their last six games against NL opponents following a loss.
- The Cardinals have failed to cover the run line in six of their last seven day games against NL Central opponents following a win.
- The Pirates have led after 5 innings in each of their last three day games against the Cardinals.
- The Pirates have led after 3 innings in five of their last six day games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
Why the St. Louis Cardinals will win
- The Pirates have lost each of their last six games as favorites against the Cardinals following a loss.
- The underdogs have won six of the Cardinals’ last seven games at PNC Park.
- The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 10 games as favorites against the Cardinals following a loss.
- The Cardinals have covered the run line in 10 of their last 11 games as underdogs after playing the previous day.
- The Cardinals have led after 3 innings in five of their last six road day games.
- The Cardinals have won the first inning in each of their last three day games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
- The Cardinals have led after 5 innings in each of their last seven road day games.
Total Runs Facts
- Four of the Pirates’ last five games as favorites against NL Central opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Four of the Cardinals’ last five day games against NL opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- There has been no run scored during the first inning in each of the Pirates’ last 10 home games against NL Central opponents.
- There has been no run scored during the first inning in each of the Cardinals’ last five games as underdogs against NL Central opponents.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Brandon Lowe has hit a home run in five of the Pirates’ last eight games.
- Paul Skenes has recorded six or more strikeouts in each of his 10 previous appearances against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Brandon Lowe has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 appearances against the Cardinals after playing the previous day.
- Nick Gonzales is one of only five players to hit over .300 and have 45+ RBIs this season.
St. Louis Cardinals Player Prop Facts
- Alec Burleson has hit a home run in each of the Cardinals’ last two day games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Kyle Leahy has recorded four or more strikeouts in each of his last seven road appearances against NL opponents.
- Jordan Walker has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 16 Thursday appearances.
- Kyle Leahy has recorded a win in three of his last four road appearances against NL Central opponents.
- Alec Burleson ranks 9th in the league in Hits (166) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Pirates rank T1st in the league for home runs allowed this season (150).
- The Pirates rank 2nd in the league for hits this season (1374).
- The Cardinals rank 27th in the league for slugging percentage this season (.380).
- The Cardinals rank 4th in the league for home runs allowed this season (156).
Pirates vs Cardinals Prediction
The Pirates are favored because Skenes is on the mound, but he’s been hittable this season, and that includes allowing 22 hits and 12 runs in his last 23 innings. Skenes is also winless against the Cardinals, and in 89 at-bats against current hitters, he’s allowing a .258 batting average and .275 on-base percentage. I continue to say if I’m forced to back one of these teams at this point in theseson i want plus money attached. Skenes isn’t the same pitcher he’s been in his first two seasons. Give me the Cardinals and the more favorable price.