Pittsburgh Pirates vs
St. Louis CardinalsPredictions & Preview

Pittsburgh Pirates face tough matchup against St. Louis Cardinals in NL Central showdown - Prediction and coverage of divisional rivalry

The Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals will face off in the second game of a four game series in the NL Central on Tuesday. The Pirates currently hold a slight lead in the season series, but St. Louis will look to even the score. Mitch Keller will start for Pittsburgh, while Andre Pallante will take the mound for the Cardinals. Stay tuned for our Pirates vs. Cardinals prediction and coverage of this divisional rivalry.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Pirates +111 | Cardinals -127
• Spread: Pirates +1.5 (-185) | Cardinals -1.5 (+160)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that St. Louis will win straight-up is 56%.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates, currently in 5th place in the NL Central, have shown potential with recent victories over the Rockies and Blue Jays. In their most recent game, they defeated the Rockies 4-0 with strong pitching from Paul Skenes and a three-run home run from Jared Triolo. Bryan Reynolds has been a consistent presence in the lineup with 13 home runs and 63 RBIs this season. O'Neil Cruz, their top power hitter, is on the IL with a concussion. Mitch Keller will start his 27th game of the season with a 5-12 record and a 4.34 ERA. Despite recent losses, the Pirates have the potential to put together a winning streak and improve their standing in the NL Central.

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals recently completed a six-game road trip in Florida, where they won two games against the Miami Marlins and lost two games to the Tampa Bay Rays. Despite their efforts, the Cardinals remain in fourth place in the NL Central division and are currently 5.5 games behind the final Wild Card spot as we enter late August. In their most recent game, a 7-2 loss to the Rays, Jordan Walker provided a strong offensive performance with two hits and an RBI. However, the team was unable to overcome the five-run deficit. Walker, a formidable presence in right field, has accumulated four home runs and 32 RBIs this season. Wilson Contreras leads the team with 19 home runs and 70 RBIs while playing first base and batting in the cleanup position. Andre Pallante, a 26-year-old right-handed pitcher, is set to make his 26th start of the season with a record of 6-11 and an ERA of 5.17. Despite his recent struggles, Pallante continues to be a key contributor to the Cardinals' pitching staff.

Pittsburgh Pirates Struggle Offensively Without Cruz, Face Potential Loss to St. Louis with Pallante on the Mound

The Pittsburgh Pirates have faced challenges maintaining offensive output in recent games, particularly without the presence of Cruz in the lineup, who serves as their primary power hitter and base stealing threat. This absence has contributed to a decrease in offensive efficiency, posing a potential struggle against St. Louis' pitcher Pallante. Pallante, having previously pitched seven scoreless innings against Pittsburgh earlier in the season, is anticipated to find success in this upcoming matchup. Conversely, Pittsburgh's Keller, who has previously split decisions against St. Louis, is predicted to incur another loss, potentially his 13th of the year. As such, St. Louis is projected to secure a victory on Tuesday night, making them the favored choice for a win.

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