St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates odds, picks and prediction
The St. Louis Cardinals (56-56) and Pittsburgh Pirates (41-72) meet Wednesday for the middle game of a three-game NL Central series at PNC Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET. Let's analyze the lines around the Cardinals vs. Piratesodds with MLB picks and predictions.
RHP Adam Wainwright is the projected starting pitcher for the Cardinals. He is 10-6 with a 3.48 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 8.4 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 139 2/3 IP over 22 starts.
- Current Pittsburgh bats own an aggregate .665 OPS and .108 isolated power against him.
- Has a 2.67 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in his last four road starts, which includes facing the hard-hitting San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves and one start at Coors Field.
RHP Wil Crowe is the projected starter for the Pirates. In 17 games (16 starts) this season, Crowe is 3-6 with a 5.47 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 8.4 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9 in 75 2/3 IP.
- Coughed up 3 HR among 8 hits and 7 runs (3 earned) in 4 IP Thursday at the Cincinnati Reds in his last start.
- Faced St. Louis twice this season, allowing 7 ER in 10 IP.
- Current Cardinals bats own an aggregate 1.031 OPS against him.
Cardinals at Pirates odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 12:04 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Cardinals -180 (bet $180 to win $100) | Pirates +145 (bet $100 to win $145)
- Against the spread/ATS: Cardinals -1.5 (-107) | Pirates +1.5 (-115)
- Over/Under: 8.5 (O: -130 | U: +105)
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Prediction
Cardinals 5, Pirates 4
Money line (ML)
St. Louis won 4-1 Tuesday. A Redbirds pitching staff (LHP J.A. Happ and three relievers), which had a 4.76 ERA over its previous 14 games, held the Pirates to just one base hit in the win.
It was the Bucs' sixth consecutive loss. They have scored just 2.00 runs per game on a .585 OPS during the skid.
With the Pittsburgh bullpen struggling in the second half and with a St. Louis 'pen that should be struggling of late (the Cardinals have benefited from a .245 batting average on balls in play in the second half), the Pirates look to be on the value side here. However, look to the run line to maximize that value.
PASS.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
Pittsburgh batters have faced a tough slate of pitchers in recording a .668 OPS. That's not to say the Pirates are a .700-OPS-type club, but they feature an offense capable of more.
TAKE PITTSBURGH +1.5 (-115).
Over/Under (O/U)
Both clubs have some situational bad-luck tilt to their offensive numbers. St. Louis owns a .276 BABIP when leading off innings and Pittsburgh owns a .268 BABIP with runners in scoring position.
The Cards and Pirates fit as teams sort of "waiting to be selected in Overs" when other conditions are ripe. Add in a hot, humid, wind-out night in Pittsburgh and BACK THE OVER 8.5 (-130) in this one.
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