The St. Louis Cardinals are set to host their division rival Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium. The matchup gets going at 8:15 p.m. ET and you can catch it on ATPT and FSMW.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals Odds
Vegas is listing Pittsburgh (+120) as the underdog to St. Louis (-130). The total stands at 8.5 runs and bettors can wager on the over for +110 and the under for -130. The game’s runline odds sit at -175 for taking the Pirates +1.5 runs and +155 for the Cardinals -1.5 runs.
The Cardinals are 79-64 straight up (SU) and 75-67 against the spread (ATS). The team has gained 2.3 units for moneyline bettors and 7.4 units (ATS). St. Louis has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. On the other hand, the Pirates are 71-71 SU and have gone 69-73 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 0.1 units for moneyline gamblers and 10.6 units ATS. Pittsburgh has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Cardinals games have an over/under record of 65-71-6 in 2018. Pirates games have gone under 70 times, gone over 62 times and pushed on 10 occasions.
Right-hander Trevor Williams will get the start for Pittsburgh. Williams is 12-9 with a 3.15 ERA and 102 strikeouts. He’s 2-2 with 20 strikeouts and a 4.50 ERA against St. Louis this year (five starts).
The Cardinals will turn to righty Adam Wainwright (1-3, 4.00 ERA), who has 15 punchouts and 14 walks to his credit as well as a WHIP of 1.83. Wainwright hasn’t faced the Pirates yet this year, but he made two starts against them in 2017, putting together a 0-0 record with a 5.25 ERA.
St. Louis’ pitchers have allowed 4.1 runs per game overall this season as a unit. Its starters have a 3.36 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.26 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 8.1 K/9. In 67 games against divisional foes, Cardinals starters have an ERA of 3.42 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.29.
The St. Louis offense is putting up 4.6 runs per outing, including 4.6 per game against divisional foes and 5.8 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .249/.306/.479 over its last five matchups and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
First baseman Jose Martinez and left fielder Marcell Ozuna have paced the Cardinals’ offense this year. Martinez is hitting .303/.362/.456 with 16 home runs, 79 RBIs and 53 runs scored, while Ozuna is batting .278 with 21 homers, 75 RBIs and 59 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff allowed 4.3 runs per game and its starters own a 4.01 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 7.42 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.96, along with a K/9 of 9.69.
Pirates hitters have slashed .253/.320/.406 on their way to 4.3 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (5-0 SU).
Outfielders Starling Marte and Corey Dickerson continue to lead Pittsburgh’s hitters. Marte is slashing .278/.321/.455 with 18 home runs, 64 RBIs, 71 runs and 31 stolen bases. Dickerson (.290/.319/.451) has produced 11 homers, 46 RBIs and 56 runs scored.
The Pirates have gained 5.8 units and are 50-51 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 38 of those games, compared to 54 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Cardinals have lost 2.0 units and are 53-48 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 42 of those games, compared to 54 that’ve gone under.
Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Cardinals, ATS Winner – Pirates, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Pittsburgh has recorded 19 extra-base hits over its last five games. St. Louis has 15 XBH over its last five.
- The Pirates have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
- Pittsburgh has posted 19 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 23 over its last five.
