If you happen to be a fan of both the Pirates and Cardinals, you will definitely appreciate this particular evening on this Wednesday night as the Pittsburgh Pirates (71-80) are locking horns with the St. Louis Cardinals (76-75) at the famed Busch Stadium. As the season approaches its end for the two sides, this showdown has every nail-biting drama, great for those in search of premium expert advice in readiness to make well-informed bets.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals 9/18/24 Game Info and Odds |
|
| When: | Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 7:45 PM ET |
| Where: | Busch Stadium |
| Watch: | SportsNet PT, ESPN, MLB.TV |
| Pirates odds: | +137 Moneyline |
| Cardinals odds: | -161 Moneyline |
| Total Line: | 7.5 |
Pittsburgh Pirates (71-80) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (76-75)
The Pittsburgh Pirates are facing challenges, evidenced by their recent performances, losing four of their last five games. They managed a narrow victory against Kansas City but suffered losses in subsequent games, including two against St. Louis, which highlighted their struggles both at the plate and on the mound.
| Pittsburgh Pirates Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 17, 2024 | STL | 1-3 | Lose |
| Sep 16, 2024 | STL | 0-4 | Lose |
| Sep 15, 2024 | KC | 4-3 | Win |
| Sep 14, 2024 | KC | 1-5 | Lose |
| Sep 13, 2024 | KC | 3-8 | Lose |
On the other hand, the St. Louis Cardinals have shown better form, securing two solid wins against the Pirates in their recent matchups. Despite a hiccup in games against Toronto, where they lost three straight, their overall season record and performance at home suggest a strong ability to bounce back in upcoming games.
| St. Louis Cardinals Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 17, 2024 | PIT | 3-1 | Win |
| Sep 16, 2024 | PIT | 4-0 | Win |
| Sep 15, 2024 | TOR | 2-3 | Lose |
| Sep 14, 2024 | TOR | 2-7 | Lose |
| Sep 13, 2024 | TOR | 3-4 | Lose |
Jake Woodford (0-6, 8.01 ERA) vs. Sonny Gray (13-9, 3.75 ERA)
Jake Woodford of the Pirates enters the game with a dismal 8.01 ERA which is not surprising since he has been poor all season, as evidenced by his 0-6 win-loss record. His WHIP is currently at 1.62 and a weakness of giving up hits and home runs is likely to be a hindrance when facing the Cardinals lineup. Woodford’s outing today could either enhance or cripple the defensive prowess of the Pirates in this importantly scheduled game.
Sonny Gray, on the contrary, however, does not disappoint as he has a 3.75 ERA and 13 wins and 9 losses. Apart from this linear pattern, he has also managed to post a very well-accomplished 1.07 WHIP with 195 strikeouts in his 160.2 innings pitched over the current season. It will be imperative for them to be efficient and navigate stormy waters given their present circumstances, which stand in the way of the Pirates and the Cardinals’ aspirations of playing the division rivals.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: St. Louis Cardinals -161, Total Odds: 7.5
Looking at current and historical statistics, it appears that most of the betting odds are in favor of the Cardinals, more so because of the dependable starter Sonny Gray as compared to Kyle Woodford. The total line is relatively low, at 7.5, and the recent matches have been skewed towards UNDER which means the sideline may be tightly contested and few goals scored.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends
This would not be the case for the Pirates who have followed a rather sad trend especially away and to the Cardinals thus being the dogs in this fight. This team’s recent accounts on their inability to seal the deal with their customers and a mediocre batting order might be situations that persist.
St. Louis Cardinals Betting Trends
The collective and aggressive defense exhibited by the Cardinals, coupled with their efficient catcher’s mound strategy, has enable the team to perform well recently, especially when the games are played in their favored home park. Their recent streak against the Pirates and the home court advantage potential may lead to another UNDER total tonight.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals 9/18/24 Betting Picks
It is quite clear that all parameters, such as team chemistry, past standings, bet patterns, and current pitching conditions, point to the Cardinals as the better team with the safer strategy. St. Louis is likely to attract smart money when covering the spread by making it ten straight wins over the Pirates at their home court, Busch Stadium.
Realizing all these factors, an assumption of the total UNDER might also be smart for those pursuing prop bets or alternate lines as most of their recent encounters have gone low tapping the teams. That being said, it should always be remembered that line-up changes and even weather forecasts may have a different outcome than expected, thus presenting one such hearing providing additional no-cost expert MLB predictions.