St. Louis Cardinals vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction 5/20/26 MLB Picks Today

The Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals meet Wednesday in MLB action from Busch Stadium. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals prediction.

Starting Pitching Matchup

The Pittsburgh Pirates come into this game with Carmen Mlodzinski as the starter here and Mlodzinski is 3-3 with a 4.40 ERA and 43 strikeouts this season. Michael McGreevy will start for St. Louis here and is 3-2 with a 2.10 ERA and 36 strikeouts this season.

Pittsburgh Pirates Recap

The Pittsburgh Pirates come into this game looking to bounce back from a 9-6 loss at the hands of the Cardinals on Tuesday to fall to 24-24 this season. After this series, the Pirates will head on the road for a series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Pirates Lose 4 Straight

Oneil Cruz has 51 hits including 9 doubles, 10 home runs and 33 RBIs while Ryan O’Hearn has 46 hits with 6 doubles, 7 home runs and 29 RBIs this season. Nick Gonzales has 49 hits with 7 doubles and 19 RBIs while Brandon Lowe has 41 hits with 10 doubles, 12 home runs and 31 RBIs and Bryan Reynolds has 43 hits with 7 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs and 28 RBIs as well this season.

St. Louis Cardinals Recap

The St. Louis Cardinals come into this game looking to add on to their 9-6 win over the Pirates last time out to sit at 28-19 this season. After this series, the Cardinals will head on the road for a series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Cardinals Win 5 Of Last 7

Jordan Walker leads the Cardinals with 53 hits, 10 doubles, 13 home runs and 34 RBIs while Alec Burleson has 51 hits with 11 doubles, 7 home runs and 34 RBIs. JJ Wetherholt has 42 hits with 9 home runs and 24 RBIs while Ivan Herrera has 46 hits with 12 doubles, 5 home runs and 23 RBIs. Nolan Gorman has 36 hits with 6 home runs and 25 RBIs this season. Masyn Winn’s added 39 hits with 8 doubles and 17 RBIs and Nathan Church has 35 hits with 5 home runs and 18 RBIs this season.

Pittsburgh Pirates @ St. Louis Cardinals Betting Trends: May 20, 2026

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Michael McGreevy      Record this season: 3-2      ERA: 2.10
• Home Record: 1-0
• Last 5 against Pirates: 1-0

Why the St. Louis Cardinals will win

• The Cardinals have won each of their last 10 night games against National League opponents.
• The Pirates have lost nine of their last 10 road games after going to extra innings.
• The Cardinals have covered the run line in each of their last 10 night games against National League opponents.
• The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in eight of their last nine games against the Cardinals following a loss.
• The Cardinals have led after 3 innings in each of their last four games against the Pirates.
• The Cardinals have led after 5 innings in four of their last five home night games.

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Carmen Mlodzinski      Record this season: 3-3      ERA: 4.40
• Road Record: 0-3
• Last 5 against Cardinals: 2-0

Why the Pittsburgh Pirates will win

• The Cardinals have lost each of their last six home games against NL Central opponents following a win.
• The Pirates have won each of their last six road games following a road loss.
• The Cardinals have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 12 games as favorites against National League opponents following a home win.
• The Pirates have covered the run line in nine of their last 10 games as road underdogs following an extra innings loss.
• The Pirates have led after 3 innings in three of their last four night games.
• The Pirates have led after 5 innings in five of their last six road games.

Total Runs Facts

• Eight of the Cardinals’ last nine games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Seven of the Pirates’ last eight games following an extra innings loss have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in nine of the Pirates’ last 10 games as underdogs against NL Central opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cardinals’ last four games against National League opponents.

St. Louis Cardinals Player Prop Facts

• Alec Burleson has hit a home run in two of the Cardinals’ last three games against the Pirates.
• Masyn Winn has recorded at least one hit in each of his last eight appearances in night games.
• Jordan Walker ranks T8th in the league in Home Runs (13) this season.

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts

• Oneil Cruz has hit at least one home run in three of the Pirates’ last six road games against opponents that held a winning record.
• Brandon Lowe has recorded at least one hit in 14 of his last 15 road appearances against NL opponents that held a winning record.
• Oneil Cruz is one of only two players to record 10+ Home Runs and 10+ Stolen Bases this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Cardinals rank 30th in the league for strikeouts this season (343).
• The Cardinals rank T29th in the league for triples this season (2).
• The Pirates rank T4th in the league for hits this season (416).
• The Pirates are one of only four teams in the league to rank top 10 in both steals and batting average this season.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals Prediction

I’m on the Cardinals in this one. I’ve been impressed with McGreevy so far this month and I’m still not sold on this Pirates lineup right now as the offense has been stagnant. I think the Cardinals are still playing the much better baseball right now and I’m looking for St. Louis to get it done here.