Cardinals vs Pirates

St. Louis look to rebound from a sluggish start when they visit the skidding Buccos in an NL Central showdown. The Pirates have dropped three of their last five and continue to suffer from a sluggish offense. Meanwhile, the Redbirds snapped their four-game losing streak with a tight win on Tuesday, potentially regaining momentum as Nolan Arenado has finally showed signs of life at the plate. The sluggers has historically enjoyed PNC Park’s sightlines. Mitch Keller has had a rough start to the year with 7.45 ERA in 2 starts and likely will struggle with the Cards lineup. With Erick Fedde suiting up to face a Pirates squad that’s striking out at the second-highest rate in the MLB, the advantage leans Redbirds. Due to both teams’ recent inconsistencies and the Pirates always being pesky at home, it’s not a lock, but the slight edge in pitching health and star talent justifies riding with the Cardinals at -120. Recommendation: take the Cardinals ML lightly, and consider parlaying only at small stakes. Confidence Grade: B-. Odds and availability are subject to change.

The Redbirds are limping into PNC Park having just snapped a three game loss streak, and their offense has sputtered early, posting just a .212 team batting average over the last week. The Buccos aren’t faring much better, losers of three straight, as key bats like Ke’Bryan Hayes and Bryan Reynolds are ice-cold—both hitting under .230 through 10 games. While the over has hit in three of their last four head-to-head matchups, shaky lineups and two well-rested bullpens suggest a slower-paced matinee matchup. With little playoff implication this early, both clubs may opt to play it safe and conserve arms. Based on pitching matchups, offensive trends, and absent pop from key hitters, this game projects under the total with moderate confidence. Odds and availability are subject to change.

The struggling Buccos may not be lighting the world on fire, but the timing of the matchup tilts their way as they host the sliding Cardinals. While St. Louis enters Wednesday just breaking a three-game skid yesterday and looks offensively flat, the Pirates have shown flashes of resilience despite their own 4-8 start. Pirates starter Mitch Keller has been better than his 1–1 record suggests, and he held St. Louis hitters in check last season with a 2.70 ERA across two starts. Meanwhile, Erick Fredde, tasked with the start for the Redbirds, historically struggles at PNC Park—his career ERA in Pittsburgh floats above 5.00. Add in Ke'Bryan Hayes' hot bat and Bryan Reynolds' career .310 average vs the Cards, and Pittsburgh’s +1.5 home spread looks like strong value, especially as the power in the St. Louis lineup remains dormant. The Pirates aren’t winning pretty, but covering here doesn’t ask them to—just to keep it close, which seems more than realistic. Odds and availability are subject to change.