St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates – As Major League Baseball heads into the mid-season hustle, the St. Louis Cardinals are set to clash with the Pittsburgh Pirates in an intriguing matchup this Independence Day at PNC Park. Both teams find themselves neck and neck in the standings, and with daily MLB free picks heating up, this game could offer some valuable insights for bettors. Starting on the mound for the Cardinals is Andre Pallante, boasting a 4-3 record and a 4.5 ERA, while the Pirates counter with Martin Perez, who has struggled with a 1-4 record and a 5.28 ERA.
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Date & Time: Thursday, July 4, 2024 at 12:35 PM ET
Location: PNC Park
TV: ESP+
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Odds
Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
Cardinals | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Pirates | TBD | TBD | TBD |
St. Louis Cardinals Analysis
The Cardinals have their team batting average fixed at . 239 and 328 runs in this season of league cricket have demonstrated volatile but occasionally steely character. Their hitting power headed 79 home runs and a . Great power, manifested by .376 slugging percentage, can be threatening for the counterparts, but the problem is that the player often fails to reach base, which is proved by the .306 on-base percentage. This situation has resulted in oscillating results that have placed them a tad above the .500 mark.
On the defensive side of things the Cardinals have a fairly solid rotation to back their team ERA of 3.89 and a WHIP of 1.25, meaning it has a competent group of arms that can maintain games closed. However, the team came unstuck on the road due to a 17-24 record against the spread column which shows that the team is brittle when not playing at home was also evident.
Andre Pallante to start today has been up and down this season with flashes of greatness, but also inconsistency. His 1.58 WHIP and 4.5 is the average earned run per game and these are areas of concern especially by this pitcher as he tends to allow hits and walks during pressure and this may tell a lot in this game.
Pittsburgh Pirates Analysis
On the other side of the field batting average is equally slightly poor for the Pirates with a .227 average but yet have been able to outscore the Cardinals who have scored only 333 runs. Although the slugging percentage is slightly less with a mark of .359, the Pirates have equalized the 78 home runs of the Cardinals meaning that when they make contact with the ball, they do it exotically.
The Pirates have gotten slightly less production out of their mound than the Cardinals with a 3.98 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Their pitchers have also been marginally less stingy to base runners while this could prove to be a big disadvantage when facing a team with some muscle to hit the baseball.
Martin Perez of the Pirates has been struggling this season, and his ERA had reached as high as 5.28 shows inconsistency. Received 78 hits and 21 walks in 61.1 innings. Perez will have to find a way to tame the Cardinals’ batting.
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Against the Spread
In recent form, both teams are evenly matched with a 3-2 record over their last five games. However, the Pirates show a stronger performance against the spread, going 4-1 in their recent outings compared to the Cardinals’ 2-3. This suggests a trend where the Pirates outperform expectations, particularly at home where they are 25-19 against the spread on the road this season.
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Free Pick
Based on trends, team stats, and starting pitchers, here are the picks:
Moneyline: Pittsburgh Pirates (The home advantage and stronger performance against the spread make them a favorable pick, despite Perez’s struggles.)
Spread: Pittsburgh Pirates (Their ability to outperform expectations and the Cardinals’ road issues tip the scales in favor of Pittsburgh.)
Total: Over (Both teams have pitchers with high WHIPs and ERAs, suggesting that runs could be plentiful in this matchup.)
Predicted Score: Pittsburgh Pirates 5, St. Louis Cardinals 4
In conclusion, while both teams present risky options due to inconsistencies, the Pirates seem better positioned to capitalize on their strengths in this matchup. For those engaging in live betting in Canada, watching how the starting pitchers manage the early innings will be crucial, as it could significantly influence the game’s dynamic and betting opportunities.