Cardinals vs. Pirates Friday Prediction
The St. Louis Cardinals remain red hot over their last 10 games and they’ll head to Pittsburgh for the weekend. Will they pick up a win tonight when they visit the Pirates at 7:05 p.m. ET on Friday night?
Game Snapshot & Odds
957 St. Louis Cardinals (-134) at 958 Pittsburgh Pirates (+121); 8.5 runs
Friday, April 27, 2018
7:05 p.m. ET, PNC Park
TV: STL (FSMW); PIT (ATTP)
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Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook YouWager currently list the Cardinals as a -134 favorite. As of this writing, 62% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Cardinals to beat the Pirates on the money line. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Cardinals’ Mikolas has turned into offseason bargain
Miles Mikolas allowed two runs — one earned — on five hits over seven innings in a win over the Reds on Sunday. Mikolas was sharp all afternoon, with only a stumble in the top of the sixth inning — started by a throwing error that allowed the leadoff hitter to reach — allowing the Reds on the board. He didn’t issue a walk — he’s walked just two in 26 innings of work — and struck out six to improve to 3-0 on the young season.
Spring struggles turned out to be just that, and the 29-year-old will carry a 3.46 ERA and 1.00 WHIP into a matchup with the division-rival Pirates on Saturday.
Pirates’ Brault coming off no-decision vs. Phillies
Steven Brault took a no-decision after allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Phillies on Saturday. He allowed just two hits and three walks while striking out four in the fine effort. He kept the Phillies off the scoreboard through five innings then faltered in the sixth. He retired the first batter in the frame, then hit Carlos Santana with a pitch and surrendered a single to Odubel Herrera before being relieved. Rhys Hoskins then belted a three-run bomb off the bullpen with two of those runs being charged to Brault. His record holds at 2-1 with a 4.44 ERA after four starts. He has a wobbly 15:12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 24 1/3 innings.
MLB Betting Trends
St. Louis
The Cardinals are 10-2 in their last 12 games overall and have won six of their last seven road games.
Pittsburgh
The Pirates are 2-5 in their last seven games overall but have won 11 of their last 16 home games.
Prediction:
The Pirates are 5-1 in Brault’s last six starts versus National League Central opponents, are 4-1 in his last five outings coming off five days of rest, and are 4-1 in his last five starts following a loss in their previous game. With the Cardinals at 1-4 in their last five games in Pittsburgh, I’ll roll the dice on the Pirates pulling off the upset.
The Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates +120