Cardinals vs. Pirates Sunday Prediction
The Pittsburgh Pirates will go for the sweep on Sunday when they host the St. Louis Cardinals but they’ll have to pull off yet another upset to accomplish the feat. Will they do so?
Game Snapshot & Odds
955 St. Louis Cardinals (-150) at 956 Pittsburgh Pirates (+130); 8.5 runs
Sunday, April 29, 2018
1:35 p.m. ET, PNC Park
TV: STL (KMOX); PIT (KDKA)
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Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook YouWager currently list the Cardinals as a -150 favorite. As of this writing, 70% 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’ Weaver struggles in second straight start
Luke Weaver walked six and was charged with four runs over 4 2/3 frames in Tuesday’s extra-innings loss to the Mets. Weaver walked three in the first four innings but allowed just one hit and one run. His control continued to unravel with two more walks in the fifth that preceded a mammoth home run by Yoenis Cespedes. He then issued another free pass to the next hitter before finally being pulled. Weaver was excellent in his first three starts but has really stumbled the last two times out. He’ll try to get back on track Sunday in Pittsburgh
Pirates’ prospect Kingham set to make MLB debut
Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Pirates will recall Nick Kingham from Triple-A Indianapolis to make his major league debut Sunday versus the Cardinals. Ranked by MLB.com as the Pirates’ No. 13 prospect, Kingham is off to a terrific start at Indy this season with a 1.59 ERA and 27/7 K/BB ratio over 22 2/3 innings in his first four outings. He normally doesn’t miss that many bats and is more of a high floor than high ceiling guy, but Kingham has great control and usually keeps the ball in the park. It will likely just be a spot start for the 26-year-old, as the Pirates need him after having a doubleheader this week.
MLB Betting Trends
St. Louis
The Cardinals have now lost four straight games against the Pirates and four straight in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh
The Pirates have won four games overall and five of six against the rest of the National League Central.
Prediction:
Despite his recent struggles I’m still choosing to back Weaver in this spot. The Cardinals are 10-4 in his last 14 starts, are 5-2 in his last seven outings coming off four days of rest, and are 6-1 in his last seven road outings. On the other side, the Pirates are starting a pitcher making his MLB debut and are just 3-7 in their last 10 games against a right-handed starter.
The Pick: St. Louis Cardinals -150