Pittsburgh Pirates Poised to Secure Victory in Series Finale Against St. Louis Cardinals: MLB Analysis and Predictions

latest MLB analysis and predictions. The Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up their four-game series in the NL Central on Thursday. The Cardinals won the first game but the Pirates bounced back with a victory in the second game. The third game will determine the series winner. Pittsburgh will start Braxton Ashcraft while St. Louis will send out Miles Mikolas. The game is scheduled for 2:15 PM EST. Stay tuned for our Pirates vs. Cardinals prediction and more MLB coverage.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Pirates +110 | Cardinals -126
Spread: Pirates +1.5 (-190) | Cardinals -1.5 (+160)
Total: Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that St. Louis will win straight-up is 56%.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates are facing the St. Louis Cardinals in a key divisional matchup, with the Pirates hoping to make a push for the playoffs despite being at the bottom of the NL Central. They split the first two games of the series and currently hold a season series lead over the Cardinals. Andrew McCutchen has been a key player for the Pirates, contributing both offensively and defensively. O'Neil Cruz has also been a strong contributor since returning from injury. Braxton Ashcraft will be starting the game, with a solid ERA and recent strong performances. Despite their position in the standings, the Pirates are focused on making a statement against their division rivals.

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals may be without Wilson Contreras due to a six-game suspension for his actions against the umpires in a recent game against Pittsburgh. Contreras is appealing the suspension and denying the accusations against him. However, regardless of the outcome, the Cardinals are facing a critical time in the season as they are 6.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot and currently in fourth place in the NL Central.

In their recent loss, Nolan Gorman stood out as the team's top offensive performer with two RBIs. Gorman, a 25-year old infielder, has 13 home runs and 42 RBIs while hitting .228. Without Contreras, Alec Burleson becomes their top power hitter with 16 home runs, 60 RBIs, and a .291 batting average.

Miles Mikolas, a 37-year old right-handed pitcher, will start his 26th game of the season. He has a 6-10 record and the team has lost in four of his last five starts. Mikolas has an ERA of 5.17 with 81 strikeouts against 31 walks. In his last outing, he gave up four runs in under three innings in a loss to the Rays.

Pirates Poised to Take Advantage of Cardinals' Challenges and Secure Victory

The Pittsburgh Pirates are poised to capitalize on the momentum in their favor, with the added advantage of the St. Louis Cardinals facing challenges such as the Contreras suspension. Additionally, the return of a healthy O'Neil Cruz further bolsters the Pirates' lineup. Despite the Cardinals starting Mikolas, a regular pitcher for the team, recent performances have shown a decline in their success, with losses in four of his last five outings. Mikolas' shaky performance against the Rays, where he allowed ten hits in under three innings resulting in a Cardinals defeat, further underscores the Pirates' opportunity for a victory. Notably, the Pirates have demonstrated resilience and are currently leading in the season series against the Cardinals. With Cruz's power back in the lineup, the Pirates are in a strong position to secure a win. Ultimately, the prediction is for the Pirates to emerge victorious in this matchup.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ]

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