MLB Game Preview: Pittsburgh Pirates (57-74) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (64-67)

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St. Louis Cardinals logo

Game Details

Time: 7:45 p.m. EDT
Venue: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO

Season Series

The Pirates hold a 5–4 advantage in the season series through nine games and aim to extend that lead in this finale.

Probable Pitchers

TeamStarterW–LERAWHIPStrikeouts
PiratesJohan Oviedo1–04.501.339
CardinalsMichael McGreevy5–24.261.1833

Betting Line: Cardinals −142, Pirates +119; Over/Under 8 runs

Key Players to Watch

  • St. Louis Cardinals
    • Alec Burleson: .285 AVG, 20 doubles, 1 triple, 15 HR
    • Willson Contreras: 10-for-35 (.286) with a double and three homers in his last 10 games
  • Pittsburgh Pirates
  • Andrew McCutchen: .241 AVG, 12 HR, 19 2B, 53 walks this season
  • Bryan Reynolds: veteran slugger, ranks among the majors in extra-base hits and run production
  • Isiah Kiner-Falefa: .265 AVG, team-best batting average, reliable on-base profile

Recent Form

  • Cardinals: 3–7 over last 10, .244 AVG, 6.00 ERA, –12 run differential
  • Pirates: 6–4 over last 10, .260 AVG, 3.21 ERA, +8 run differential

Betting Trends

  • St. Louis is 30–28 (51.7%) this year as a moneyline favorite and 15–12 (55.6%) when laying −136 or shorter.
  • Pittsburgh is 36–53 (40.4%) as an underdog and 22–41 when tagged at +115 or longer.
  • The total has gone over eight runs in 7 of St. Louis’s last 10 games, while Pirates games have cleared the mark in 3 of their last 10 outings.

Game Odds

Pittsburgh Pirates            8

St. Louis Cardinals           – 142

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, August 24, 2025