The St. Louis Cardinals (20-18) and Pittsburgh Pirates (16-21) meet Friday at 6:35 p.m. ET top open a 3-game series at PNC Park. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Cardinals vs. Pirates odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: St. Louis leads 2-1.
The Cardinals 7-6 at the New York Mets Thursday. St. Louis dropped 3 of 4 games in that series and is just 1-5 over its last 6 road tilts.
The Pirates are back at home after dropping 2 contests in a 3-game set at Wrigley Field. Pittsburgh enters this series in a team batting slump: the Bucs own a mere .461 OPS over their last 7 games.
Cardinals at Pirates projected starters
RHP Adam Wainwright vs. RHP Zach Thompson
Wainwright (4-3, 3.15 ERA) owns a 1.23 WHIP, 3.4 BB/9 and 7.4 K/9 through 40 IP in 7 starts.
- Has authored a 0.25 ERA over his last 5 starts vs. Pittsburgh.
- Current Pirates batters own an aggregate .306 OPS against him.
- Owns a 2.37 ERA over his last 3 starts.
Thompson (2-3, 5.47 ERA) has logged a 1.52 WHIP, 4.4 BB/9 and 7.5 K/9 through 26 1/3 IP in 6 starts and 1 relief outing.
- Clocked a 3.24 ERA in 75 IP last season.
- Has yielded just 3 hits over 11 scoreless innings across his last 2 starts.
Cardinals at Pirates odds and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:20 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Cardinals -155 (bet $155 to win $100) | Pirates +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
- Run line (RL): Cardinals -1.5 (+110) | Pirates +1.5 (-135)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Cardinals at Pirates picks and predictions
Prediction
Pirates 5, Cardinals 4
Money line
Wainwright has historically been a much better pitcher at home. Thompson has, too: he owns a 3.26 ERA over 58 career innings at home.
The Cards have never seen Thompson, and they are a club better suited for facing lefties. They also generate more right-vs.-right plate appearances than the average club, and that plays into a Thompson advantage.
The Redbirds went into extra innings in their Thursday setback at Citi Field, and their bullpen is not in great shape heading into this series.
BACK THE PIRATES (+125), but consider waiting out a better price in early Friday betting.
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Run line/Against the spread
Same calculus as above. I will take PIRATES +1.5 (-135)…but will expect a better price at some point Friday.
Over/Under
No significant lean either way. PASS.
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