Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the MLB match.
The St. Louis Cardinals may still be in the playoff hunt, while the Pittsburgh Pirates are out of contention, but both sides are currently playing some of their best baseball of the season. Each team enters this series having just shut out their previous opponents, and there’s no shortage of momentum on either side.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes is red-hot heading into the new week, riding an eight-game hitting streak. During that span, he’s gone 13-for-29 (.448), notching three doubles and driving in eight runs. The Pirates, unsurprisingly, have seen the over land in eight of their last ten outings. On the mound, though, Andrew Heaney (4.48 ERA) has been far less reliable. He’s given up seven runs in each of his last two starts, failing to pitch beyond the fifth inning in both.
St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals have found their groove, winning 10 of their last 13 games. Despite struggling in their final two outings against the Chicago Cubs’ pitching staff, they tallied 37 runs in the other five games of the week — including two come-from-behind victories. Second baseman Nolan Gorman has stepped up big time in the absence of Iván Herrera, batting .264 in June with five home runs and 13 RBIs.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs St. Louis Cardinals Prediction
The Pittsburgh Pirates games have become must-watch for fans of high-scoring affairs, with their porous pitching often balanced by timely hitting. The St. Louis Cardinals have the form and firepower to match that energy. Expect both lineups to do damage in this one.
