Cardinals vs Pirates Prediction 4/29/2026 Today’s MLB Picks

In this article we will formulate a Cardinals vs Pirates prediction for this MLB game on Wednesday, April 29th at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup. 

St. Louis Cardinals Betting Preview

The St. Louis Cardinals are 16-13 this season after they won the first two games in this series by scores of 4-2 and 11-7. In game two, St. Louis scored the first six runs in the game and they added three more in the seventh in the blowout victory. The Cardinals recorded 12 hits in the game and they were led by Burleson, Walker, and Gorman, who all had three RBIs. Leahy allowed nine hits and three earned runs over 5.1 innings for the win, while Bruihl allowed two earned runs in relief. Prior to this series, St. Louis lost all three against the Mariners and two out of three against the Marlins. 

This season, St. Louis has a 4.81 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP and a .264 opponent batting average, while they have scored 140 runs with a .237 batting average and a .324 on base percentage. Jordan Walker has led the Cardinals with eight home runs and 19 RBIs, while Alec Burleson has added three home runs and 20 RBIs. The projected starting pitcher for St. Louis is Andre Pallante, who is 2-2 with a 4.26 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP over 25.1 innings pitched this season. 

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 16-14 this year after they lost game two by a score of 11-7 last night. Pittsburgh cut the deficit to 6-3 in the sixth inning, but they couldn’t get any closer in the high scoring loss. The Pirates recorded 13 hits and they committed two errors, while they were led by O’Hearn, who went 2-4 with one home run and three RBIs in the game. Ashcraft allowed six hits and six earned runs over 4.1 innings for the loss, while Barco allowed five earned runs in relief. Prior to this series, Pittsburgh won two out of three against the Brewers, but lost two out of three against the Rangers before that. 

This season, Pittsburgh has a 3.61 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP and a .221 opponent batting average, while they have scored 144 runs with a .245 batting average and a .326 on base percentage. Oneil Cruz has led the Pirates with nine home runs and 25 RBIs, while Brandon Lowe has added seven home runs and 19 RBIs. The projected starting pitcher for Pittsburgh is Bubba Chandler, who is 1-2 with a 4.88 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP over 24.0 innings pitched this year. 

Why the Pittsburgh Pirates will win

• The Pirates have won each of their last seven Wednesday night games against teams that held a winning record.
• The Cardinals have lost each of their last six Wednesday night games against National League opponents.
• The Pirates have covered the run line in seven of their last eight games following a home loss.
• The Cardinals have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight Wednesday night games.
• The Cardinals have trailed after 5 innings in four of their last five road games against opponents that held a winning record.

Why the St. Louis Cardinals will win

• The Pirates have lost each of their last 10 home games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
• The underdogs have won five of the Pirates’ last six games at PNC Park.
• The Pirates have failed to cover the run line each of their last nine home games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
• The underdogs have covered the run line in 13 of the last 14 games between the Cardinals and Pirates at PNC Park.

Total Runs Facts

• Five of the Cardinals’ last six road games against National League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Four of the Pirates’ last five games as favorites against the Cardinals have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in seven of the Pirates’ last eight night games against NL Central opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of Andre Pallante’s last three road appearances as a starter.

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts

• Oneil Cruz has hit at least one home run in three of his last four appearances with the Pirates as favorites against NL Central opponents.
• Jared Triolo has recorded two or more hits in each of his last two home appearances.

St. Louis Cardinals Player Prop Facts

• Ramon Urias has recorded at least one hit in each of his last seven road appearances against NL Central opponents.
• Nolan Gorman has hit a home run in three of his last six appearances at PNC Park against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.

Cardinals vs Pirates Prediction 

Pittsburgh comes into this matchup on a three game losing streak and they have been outscored 20-9 during that span. The Pirates are 8-7 at home this year, while the Cardinals are 9-5 on the road. St. Louis has won two games in a row to start this series, but they have a pretty rough team ERA. The Cardinals are starting Pallante, who has allowed 10 earned runs and 16 hits in his last 15.1 innings, while Chandler has allowed 6, 1, 3, and 3 earned runs in his last four outings. Take the over in this contest.

David Racey's Pick: Over 8.5