St. Louis Cardinals vs Pittsburgh Pirates Predictions: Kyle Leahy vs Paul Skenes
The Pittsburgh Pirates will beat the St. Louis Cardinals, Pirates 4, Cardinals 3, with Paul Skenes' recent ability to work deeper than Kyle Leahy providing the strongest matchup advantage. This is a low-confidence forecast: Leahy owns the lower season ERA, and St. Louis has encouraging recent relief results. Neither the supplied run lines nor the 6.5 total offers a compelling wager. The official recommendation is Pass.
St. Louis Cardinals vs Pittsburgh Pirates prediction and best bet
Pittsburgh gets the nod because the recent starting-pitcher comparison favors Skenes, particularly in how much of the game he can cover. Leahy's last five starts have averaged three innings, putting an early handoff to the Cardinals' bullpen firmly in play. Pittsburgh also averages more runs per game, giving the Pirates a modest second advantage.
The best betting decision is Pass. A forecast of Pirates 4, Cardinals 3 points toward a competitive finish, but it is not a precise measure of either team's chance to cover. Pittsburgh -1.5 (+144) asks for a larger margin, while St. Louis +1.5 (-175) demands a substantial price for protection against a one-run loss.
Odds, game time and how to watch
Game: St. Louis at Pittsburgh, MLB, Thursday, September 24, 2026. First pitch: 12:35 p.m. EDT at PNC Park.
Broadcast: SportsNet Pittsburgh and Cardinals.TV presented by bet365.
Records: Cardinals 77-81 overall, 39-38 away; Pirates 80-78 overall, 43-37 at home.
Probable starters: St. Louis right-hander Kyle Leahy and Pittsburgh right-hander Paul Skenes.
SportsJaw moneylines: Cardinals +135; Pirates -160.
SportsJaw run lines: Cardinals +1.5 (-175); Pirates -1.5 (+144). Total: Over 6.5 (-132); Under 6.5 (+108).