St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates odds, picks and predictions

The St. Louis Cardinals (44-40) take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (40-44) Wednesday in the 2nd game of a 3-game set at PNC Park at 6:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Cardinals vs. Pirates odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Cardinals lead 3-1

We nailed 2 of 3 wagers Tuesday as the Cards opened up a 6-0 lead in the first 4 innings and held on for a 7-4 victory. Cardinals 2B Nolan Gorman , mired in a miserable slump, took a pitch low and away, to the deepest part of the park in left-center for a grand slam. INF/OF Brendan Donovan added 3 hits and an RBI as well. He’s hitting .388 with 3 HR and 12 RBIs over the last 15 days.

The Buccos cashed the Over 8 with 4 runs in the 5th inning on homers by OFs Jack Suwinski and Andrew McCutchen . They did nothing against the Cards’ bullpen, though. The Pirates have lost 3 of 4 and are now 9-11 over their last 20 games.

Cardinals at Pirates projected starters

RHP Miles Mikolas vs. RHP Jared Jones

Mikolas (6-7, 5.32 ERA) makes his 18th start. He has a 1.25 WHIP, 1.7 BB/9 and 6.5 K/9 through 94 2/3 innings.

• Last start: Loss, 4 1/3 IP, 9 ER (career high), 12 H, 1 BB, 1 K in 11-4 home defeat Thursday against Cincinnati Reds
• Last 5 starts vs. Pirates: 1-2, 2.30 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 26 K in 31 1/3 IP
• Home/road splits: 1-3, 6.18 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 6.4 K/9 in 8 home starts vs. 5-4, 4.59 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 6.5 K/9 in 9 road starts

Jones (5-6, 3.66 ERA) makes his 16th start. He has a 1.11 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9 and 9.7 K/9 through 86 innings.

• Last start: Win, 7 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 8 K in 4-3 home victory June 22 against Tampa Bay Rays
• Never faced St. Louis before
• Home/road splits: 3-2, 2.20 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 9.2 K/9 in 8 home starts; 2-4, 5.59 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 10.5 K/9 in 7 road starts

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.

Cardinals at Pirates odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook ; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:22 p.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML) : Cardinals +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Pirates -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS) : Cardinals +1.5 (-190) | Pirates -1.5 (+155)
• Over/Under (O/U) : 8 (O: -120 | U: +100)

Cardinals at Pirates picks and predictions

Prediction

Pirates 6, Cardinals 4

Moneyline

I’m all aboard the Bucs train today. The Cards predominately struggle against a pitcher they haven’t seen before. Jones has an electric arm and is much better at home. Mikolas has allowed 13 ER in his last 2 starts, as he just doesn’t miss enough bats.

Take the PIRATES -130 here.

Run line/Against the spread

I would consider the Pirates here if their bullpen wasn’t in shambles. They’re 4th-worst in MLB with a 4.58 ERA.

So let me present 2 prop options: Jones has 3+ walks in 4 straight starts and 2+ BB in 6 straight. Take JARED JONES OVER 1.5 WALKS ( -120 ) .

Another option: MILES MIKOLAS OVER 2.5 EARNED RUNS ( -145 ). Mikolas allowed 3+ ER in 10 of his 17 starts thus far. The Pirates scored 4 off of Kyle Gibson Tuesday, and he struck out the side in 2 innings and 8 overall in a dominant start until the end.

Over/Under

The winds are swirling out toward left-center at 10 mph for this one. It’s a little risky to go Over here with these teams tied at 22nd with 4.0 R/game. It’s the starting pitching and the Pirates’ bullpen that pushes it Over for me.

Take the OVER 8 ( -120 ) with the wind blowing out.

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