St. Louis Cardinals vs
Pittsburgh PiratesPredictions & Preview

Pittsburgh Pirates Favored Over St. Louis Cardinals in Divisional Showdown: Can Paul Skenes Outduel Sonny Gray?

The St. Louis Cardinals will face the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second game of a three-game divisional series, with Sonny Gray starting for the Cardinals and Paul Skenes starting for the Pirates. The Cardinals won last year's season series, but Pittsburgh is the betting favorite for this matchup. Can Paul Skenes earn his second win? Stay tuned for the Cardinals vs. Pirates prediction.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Cardinals +126 | Pirates -140
• Spread: Cardinals +1.5 (-191) | Pirates -1.5 (+162)
• Total: Over/Under 6.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Pittsburgh will win straight-up is 58%.

St. Louis vs Pittsburgh Stats

St. Louis Cardinals

Sonny Gray will be on the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. Gray has had two starts this season, with a strong season debut against Minnesota and a more challenging outing against the Angels. He had an impressive performance last year, with a 3.84 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. However, he has had mediocre numbers against the Pirates in the past. The Cardinals have had a mixed start to the season, winning four out of their first six games but struggling in their recent outings. Ivan Herrera has been a standout player, with four home runs and 11 RBIs in the early part of the season. The team is currently averaging 6.89 runs per game but has a pitching staff with a 6.01 ERA, ranking them last in the league in pitching. St. Louis is currently ranked 2nd in offense, 25th in defense, and has a record of 4-5 this season.

Pittsburgh Pirates Analysis

Paul Skenes, a rising star for the Pittsburgh Pirates, will make his third start of the season on Tuesday. Skenes has shown impressive skill on the mound, with standout performances in his first two outings. Despite a strong 1.96 ERA and 0.95 WHIP last season, Skenes struggled to secure wins against the Cardinals. The Pirates are aiming for their first series win of the season after dropping games to the Marlins, Rays, and Yankees. Ke'Bryan Hayes, a highly-paid third baseman, is working to improve his performance after a lackluster season. The Pirates currently rank 27th in both offense and defense, with a 3-7 overall record. Recent matchups between Pittsburgh and St. Louis have been in favor of the Cardinals.

St. Louis Cardinals Struggle as Pittsburgh Pirates Rise: Pitcher Skenes Shines Ahead of Matchup

The St. Louis Cardinals have encountered some challenges recently, losing two out of three games against the Angels and suffering a road sweep by the Red Sox. Currently, the team ranks last in the major leagues in ERA. On the other hand, the Pittsburgh Pirates secured a victory against the Yankees, boasting an advantage with pitcher Paul Skenes set to take the mound. Meanwhile, Sonny Gray of the Cardinals struggled last year on the road, posting a 5.20 ERA, and had a rough outing against the Angels. In contrast, Skenes has been performing well with only two earned runs conceded in his last two games. Additionally, Skenes dominated the Cardinals in 2024 with an impressive 1.31 ERA in 20.2 innings pitched.

Sources: [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ]