Pittsburgh Pirates vs St. Louis Cardinals 5/22/22 MLB Picks, Predictions, Odds

The St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Sunday in MLB action from PNC Park. This will be the final installment in a three-game weekend series. The Cardinals took a two-run win on Friday in the opener, then in the Saturday game St. Louis eked out a one-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

St. Louis scored four runs in the sixth inning Friday during the opener, pouring out a 5-3 victory. In the Saturday game two, the Cardinals posted four runs in the second inning and held on for the 5-4 victory. Starter Matthew Liberatore put up 4.2 innings with four earned on seven hits and two walks.

For the starter gig in the Sunday game the Cardinals will send out Steven Matz. Across his eight starts so far Matz is 3-3 with a 6.03 ERA. In 37.1 innings of work Matz has 44 hits, 25 earned runs, eight walks and 44 Ks. 

Over on the Pittsburgh side, they showed some life with three runs in the seventh and eighth innings Friday but couldn’t overcome the deficit. On Saturday, the Pirates had seven team hits—and gave up 10—in the loss. Jose Quintana lasted 3.2 innings in the start with two earned on seven hits and a walk.

Pittsburgh will send out Bryse Wilson in the start Sunday. In his seven games (four starts), Wilson is 0-2 with a 5.67 ERA. 

PICK: I’m probably going to stay Cardinals in this one. Matz has certainly had his ups and downs this year. He posted a very ugly start May 7 versus the Giants with eight earned on five hits and three walks in just 2.0 innings. Since then however, Matz has tightened the screws with five earned on 10 hits and zero walks in 11.2 innings. He wasn’t able to get a win in either one of those games, but I think Matz will be in line for the victory here if all goes well for St. Louis.