Pittsburgh Pirates (40-43) vs St. Louis Cardinals (43-40)
Game Info: Thursday, July 4, 2024 at 12:35 pm (PNC Park)
The Line: Betting Odds: Pittsburgh Pirates +103 / St. Louis Cardinals -122 — Over/Under:
The St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Thursday in MLB action from PNC Park. Here’s a St. Louis Cardinals vs Pittsburgh Pirates prediction. This will be the final installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game. We will examine:
The St. Louis Cardinals recent form and player performance
The Pittsburgh Pirates recent form and player performance
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the St. Louis Cardinals
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Pittsburgh Pirates
Recent betting trends in games played between the Cardinals and Pirates
A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Cardinals vs Pirates game
St. Louis Cardinals Betting Preview
Over the weekend, the Cardinals played the Cincinnati Reds. St. Louis managed to split those four games with wins 1-0 Friday and 2-0 on Sunday. After a 7-4 win over the Pirates in the Tuesday opener, in game two St. Louis took a 10-inning loss 5-4.
Andre Pallante will get the ball for the starter role on Thursday for the Cards. This year Pallante is 4-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 15 games (six starts). Pallante is 14-9 with a 3.91 ERA in 124 career games (16 starts).
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
Over on the Pirates’ side, their weekend series was against the Atlanta Braves. Pittsburgh was only able to win one of those games, staving off the sweep with a 4-2 result Sunday. On Wednesday the Pirates out-hit St. Louis 11-8.
It’ll be Martin Perez in the starter role for the Pirates Thursday. So far this season Perez is 1-4 with a 5.28 ERA in 12 starts. Over his career Perez is 86-85 with a 4.47 ERA in 300 games (255 starts).
Cardinals vs Pirates Pick Injury Notes
Cardinals RP Riley O’Brien (forearm) was set to throw bullpen sessions this week.
Pirates RP Hunter Stratton (triceps) was set to throw off a slope this week. Catcher Endy Rodriguez (elbow) has taken live batting practice from the left side.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Pirates’ last six day games against National League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Six of the Cardinals’ last seven games as road favorites have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cardinals’ last seven road games against NL Central opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Pirates’ last seven day games against NL Central opponents.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Rowdy Tellez has hit a home run in two of the Pirates’ last three games against NL Central opponents.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded an RBI in five of the Pirates’ last six games at PNC Park.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded two or more total bases in seven of his last eight home appearances against the Cardinals after playing the previous day.
- Martin Perez has recorded four strikeouts in five of his last six appearances against NL opponents.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one Single in each of the Pirates’ last eight Thursday day games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one hit in each of the Pirates’ last nine games as underdogs against NL Central opponents.
- Ji-Hwan Bae has scored a run in each of his last four appearances in day games against NL Central teams that held a winning record.
St. Louis Cardinals Player Prop Facts
- Willson Contreras has hit a home run in each of his last two road appearances after playing the previous day.
- Paul Goldschmidt has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last eight Thursday day appearances against teams that held a losing record.
- Nolan Arenado has recorded at least one Single in each of his last six appearances in day games against teams that held a losing record.
- Willson Contreras has scored at least one run in 11 of his last 13 appearances with the Cardinals as favorites.
- Brandon Crawford has recorded a Double in three of his last four road appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Matt Carpenter has recorded at least one hit in each of his last six appearances in day games against teams that held a losing record.
- Matt Carpenter has recorded at least one total base in each of his last seven appearances in day games.
St. Louis Cardinals vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction
I’ll lean toward the Cardinals. Pallante had a rough outing on June 20 versus the Giants, notching five earned in 5.1 innings on seven hits and three walks. He still got the win in that one, though. In his last start Pallante rebounded with 5.1 clean frames in a win versus the Reds. As for Perez, he’s coming off six earned in 4.0 innings versus the Braves—but he was pitching well before that.
On Wednesday the Cards had a lead going into the bottom of the 10th but couldn’t hold it. If Pallante can post a quality start Thursday however, I like St. Louis to win the rubber match.