Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the MLB match.
The Pittsburgh Pirates opened their series against the St. Louis Cardinals with a commanding 7:0 win, extending their winning streak to four games — conceding just four runs across that stretch. And with their ace on the mound, there's a real chance of extending that run.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Last week, Paul Skenes lost a high-profile duel to the Milwaukee Bucks’ top prospect Jacob Misiorowski (2:4), but it's unlikely to have dented his confidence. The Pirates’ rookie phenom ranks in the MLB top 10 for total strikeouts (110) and is top five in WHIP. Unsurprisingly, four of his last five starts ended under the total, with combined scores never exceeding seven runs.
St. Louis Cardinals
Andre Pallante may lack the accolades of Skenes, but he’s been excellent against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In three outings versus the Pirates last season, he gave up just two runs over 20 innings, averaging only 3.7 hits per game. Offensively, the Cardinals lack explosiveness — no batter is on pace for even 25 home runs. Their small-ball approach is unlikely to work well against a pitcher like Skenes.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs St. Louis Cardinals Prediction
The Pirates often get involved in high-scoring games — but not with Skenes on the mound. Even a relatively low total line doesn’t scare us off. The home ace will be eager to bounce back after last week’s loss.
