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The Pittsburgh Pirates (71-79) take on the St. Louis Cardinals (75-75) Tuesday in the 2nd game of a 4-game set at Busch Stadium at 7:45 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Pirates vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Cardinals lead 6-4
Monday’s focus was on rookie phenom RHP Paul Skenes, and he was good, cashing an Over 6.5 K’s for us. Cards RHP Andre Pallante told us to hold his beer and struck out 9 Buccos over 7 shutout innings. The Bucs fell 4-0 Monday as they amassed just 4 hits. The Pirates have lost 3 of 4 as the sun is beginning to set on their season.
I mentioned the Cards do this weird thing where they get swept by a bad team and then play up to their competition. They did that against Skenes, handing him the 2nd of his 3 losses of his bright career. They scored 4 runs on 7 hits to snap a 3-game losing streak.
Pirates at Cardinals projected starters
LHP Bailey Falter vs. RHP Lance Lynn
Falter (8-7, 4.20 ERA) makes his 26th start. He has a 1.28 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9 and 6.2 K/9 through 128 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 7 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 5 K in 3-1 home victory Wednesday against Miami Marlins
- June 12 at St. Louis: Loss, 4 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 5 K in 4-2 setback
Lynn (6-4, 3.96 ERA) makes his 23rd start. He has a 1.36 WHIP, 3.4 BB/9 and 8.4 K/9 through 111 1/3 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 5 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 7 K in 2-1 home win Wednesday against Cincinnati Reds
- 2 GS vs. Pittsburgh this year: 0-0, 2.89 ERA (3 ER in 9 1/3 IP) 7 K
Who’s going yard? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.
Pirates at Cardinals odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of MLB odds. Lines last updated at 2:20 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Pirates +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Cardinals -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Pirates +1.5 (-185) | Cardinals -1.5 (+150)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Pirates at Cardinals picks and predictions
Prediction
Cardinals 4, Pirates 2
Moneyline
The Cards looked like the superior team Monday, and they could revert back to their typical mediocrity. So I’m not interested in them at -145.
PASS.
Run line/Against the spread
Instead, I’ll take the risk/reward of the RL here at +150. The Pirates have scored 3 runs or fewer in 4 of 5, and the Cards’ pen is rested. Of the Cards’ 6 wins against them this season, half of them have been by multiple runs.
Take the CARDINALS -1.5 (+150).
Over/Under
It’s slated to be 84 degrees with a 6-mph wind blowing right to left. The Under has smashed in 8 of 10 meetings between the teams this season.
I’ll take the UNDER 8 (-115).
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