Cardinals vs Pirates

Coming off a strong offensive showing, the Cardinals head into Pittsburgh with confidence despite their sub-.500 record. St. Louis, now turning to hitters like Nolan Arenado, Jordan Walker, and Brendan Donovan, seems poised to capitalize on Pittsburgh’s ongoing struggles. The Pirates are mired in a four-game losing streak, and while Ke’Bryan Hayes is active, he’s been limited recently due to lingering left side tightness. Miles Mikolas is expected to start for St. Louis; he owns a 2.90 ERA across 23 career appearances versus the Pirates, though he’s coming off a rough outing against Cincinnati. Pittsburgh counters with rookie right-hander Jared Jones, who has shown potential but is still adapting to MLB hitters. With the Cardinals showing more stability in the late innings and the Pirates lacking consistency, there’s decent value in backing St. Louis at plus money. Recommendation: Take the Cardinals for the win at +115. Grade: B+. Odds and availability are subject to change.

Riding back-to-back wins, the Cardinals head into Pittsburgh with some momentum. While both clubs have struggled early—St. Louis entering at 4-5, Pittsburgh at 3-7—there’s enough firepower and volatility on the mound to push this game past the modest total. Jared Jones, Pittsburgh’s rookie starter, has impressed in flashes but lacks command consistency, while Miles Mikolas takes the ball for St. Louis after surrendering 10 runs in his last start. Offensively, the Cardinals lean on Nolan Arenado, Jordan Walker, and Lars Nootbaar, while the Pirates counter with a lineup led by Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz. Both bullpens have been shaky, and with mild April weather expected at PNC Park, a back-and-forth affair is possible. Betting the over 6.5 offers moderate return with a decent edge — we give this pick a solid B. Odds and availability are subject to change.

Facing off against their NL Central rivals, the struggling Pirates will try to halt a five-game losing streak against a Cardinals team trending upward. The Bucs have been swept recently by the Reds, and the continued absence of reliever Colin Holderman, who remains on the IL, has hurt their late-inning execution. Meanwhile, St. Louis has won three of its last four and is leaning on its younger core—Jordan Walker, Lars Nootbaar, and Brendan Donovan—to drive the offense. Sonny Gray is not scheduled to start; instead, Miles Mikolas takes the mound for the Cards, looking to rebound from a disastrous outing. The Pirates’ offense has been cold, averaging just 3.2 runs over their last six games, and Oneil Cruz continues to struggle both at the plate and defensively. With better rotation depth, defensive improvement, and a Pittsburgh bullpen still vulnerable, the Cardinals are well-positioned to cover the -1.5 spread. Odds and availability are subject to change.