Aiming to avoid a double-digit slide, the Pittsburgh Pirates will try to salvage a decision in a four-game set with the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium Wednesday night. The Redbirds have won eight of nine of these clubs’ meetings this year. Lately, this has been one of the more predictable MLB matchups.
The Cardinals (37-27) have taken advantage of Milwaukee’s woes by climbing into the National League Central’s driver’s seat. They emerged victorious from five of their last six, including a 9-1 triumph in the second half of a Tuesday twinbill, which has helped them in the MLB standings.
Pittsburgh (24-37) trails both, sitting in third place at this moment. If they suffer a loss here, it’ll mark the third straight time that they’ve been swept. The optimism from three consecutive wins over the Los Angeles Dodgers has dissipated, leaving the Buccos to square off against a rival that has dominated them in recent memory.
Third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes is one of the team’s key contributors at the dish, swinging for a .271 average. His .353 on-base percentage is also tops in the clubhouse. Left fielder Bryan Reynolds, another talent whom Pittsburgh would be wise to build around, has belted ten home runs.
Second baseman Michael Chavis has 22 RBIs. Only three teams – Detroit, Arizona, and Oakland – have lower batting averages than the Pirates. Other than the Tigers, the Pirates have the fewest runs scored in the MLB.
If this squad wants to start trying to gain ground, they’ll have to do a better job with the lumber. They were outscored 12-2 in the doubleheader.
Pirates at Cardinals Odds
MLB odds have the Cardinals getting their brooms out in this one. St. Louis is -1.5 on the run line at +128, while the Pirates are -154 to cover the spread.
On the moneyline, the Cardinals are -168 and Pittsburgh a +142 underdog. The total has been set at 8.5 runs, with the over being -110 and the under the same at the time of this writing.
MLB betting trends likely notice that St. Louis grades out within the NL’s top four as it pertains to batting average (.252). A big reason for that number is first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, whose .349 mark is the third-highest of any player in the league. His 56 runs driven in rank the same.
The tandem of Goldschmidt and third baseman Nolan Arenado has collaborated for 27 of the Cards’ 61 long balls. Second baseman Tommy Edman is hitting .285 and has worked 25 walks.
The pitching that accompanies them hasn’t been shabby, either. St. Louis’ 3.84 ERA is tied for being the sixth-best baseball has to offer.
Matchup Information
Pirates at Cardinals Betting Preview
Roansy Contreras, a 22-year-old righty, will man the hill for Pittsburgh. Through seven appearances, he has a 2.57 ERA and a 1-1 record. He’s pitched 28 frames in total thus far, striking out 33 and allowing 24 knocks.
His last time out, against Atlanta, wasn’t one of his finest showings. He was chased after 4.2 innings, giving up three earned runs on the way to a 4-2 defeat. Over his last pair of starts, he’s fanned 15 opponents.
The Pirates’ group of throwers as a whole hasn’t been the most formidable. They have a 4.52 ERA together and have allowed the Redbirds a combined 19 runs in three contests.
Jack Flaherty will go for the home team. He hasn’t taken the mound since October and sports a 32-24 career record. For his career, the opposition has a .154 batting average against him.
He likely doesn’t mind making his season debut against a group that hasn’t put it together thus far.
Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals Picks and Predictions
MLB picks today should be safe in going with the hosts. St. Louis just isn’t a place that Pittsburgh likes to visit, and the lineup should want to give Flaherty a little bit of help in his first game back.
If you’re thinking of betting on baseball, the the Cardinals to handily cover the spread.
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