The Pittsburgh Pirates host the St. Louis Cardinals for the series opener at PNC Park on Monday, April 7. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET; the game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Midwest, SportsNet-PIT and MLB.TV.
The Cardinals enter Monday on a three-game losing streak after getting swept by the Boston Red Sox. The Pirates, meanwhile, managed to avoid getting swept by the New York Yankees with a win on Sunday.
What should we expect from this NL Central rivalry game? You can find my Cardinals vs Pirates prediction and pick for Monday night below.
My Cardinals vs Pirates Prediction
- Cardinals vs Pirates pick:Cardinals Moneyline (-125; Play to -135)
My Cardinals vs Pirates best bet is on the Cardinals Moneyline. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Cardinals vs Pirates Odds
| Cardinals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +136 | 8 -118o / -102u | -125 |
| Pirates Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -162 | 8 -118o / -102u | +105 |
- Cardinals vs Pirates Moneyline: Cardinals -125, Pirates +105
- Cardinals vs Pirates Run Line: Cardinals -1.5 (+136), Pirates +1.5 (-162)
- Cardinals vs Pirates Total: 8 (-118o / -102u)
Cardinals vs Pirates Preview & Prediction
Cardinals Betting Preview: Bounce-Back Spot
The St. Louis Cardinals were embarrassed on Sunday Night Baseball, getting swept at Fenway Park after allowing 18 runs to the Boston Red Sox. It was a tough day all around for the Cards, who now face a quick turnaround as they head to Pittsburgh to take on a division rival.
Southpaw Matthew Liberatore gets the start for St. Louis. While he's known for being a contact-heavy pitcher, the pitcher-friendly dimensions of PNC Park should work in his favor.
Additionally, weather could play a role Monday night, as snow showers are expected throughout the evening — something that typically benefits pitchers over hitters, particularly when it comes to suppressing power and hard contact.
Despite not missing many bats, Liberatore does a respectable job at limiting explosive contact.
Given the conditions and the setting, he should be in a decent spot to bounce back and give the Cardinals a solid outing.
Pirates Betting Preview: Bullpen Could Be in Trouble
The Pittsburgh Pirates come into Monday's game fresh off an emotional extra-innings win over the Yankees to avoid being swept at home.
However, that dramatic victory came at a cost: the Pirates had to empty much of their bullpen to get through Sunday’s extended affair.
Carmen Mlodzinski will open the game for Pittsburgh, but expect this to be a bullpen-heavy approach. Given the usage yesterday, the Pirates may be thin on fresh arms, which could prove problematic — especially if the weather keeps scoring opportunities low and the game tight into the later innings.
The Pirates’ offense had some success against the Yankees, but the matchup against Liberatore and the cold, snowy conditions at PNC Park might cool their bats down.
With a taxed bullpen and little margin for error, it could be a challenging spot for Pittsburgh.
Cardinals vs Pirates Prediction, Betting Analysis
At the time of writing, oddsmakers have installed the Cardinals as -125 favorites, with the total set at 8.
After the bullpen was spared during Sunday's blowout loss, the Cards enter this one with their high-leverage arms fully rested. With motivation to snap a losing skid and a favorable matchup, St. Louis is well-positioned to respond with a win.
While not expecting a high-scoring game, the edge here leans toward the more rested and desperate side: the Cardinals.
The Pirates are vulnerable after a draining series finale against the Yanks, and fading them in this spot presents value.
Pick: Cardinals Moneyline
Cardinals vs Pirates Parlay
- Cardinals Moneyline
- Under 8.5
- Matthew Liberatore Under 3.5 Strikeouts
Parlay odds: +675 (DraftKings)
It's a great spot to take an under, especially with the uncertainty of the snow showers expected to take place. If the weather is severe enough, the game will get postponed.
It's not a great environment for the pitchers or hitters, but I believe it affects the hitters a bit more. We could see a lot of weaker contact from both offenses, especially with Liberatore on the mound.
I will also fade Liberatore's strikeouts, which should be no surprise given the analysis above. He only generated a 21.2% strikeout rate in 2024 and a below-average whiff and chase rate.
The weather could also impact velocity, which would only help us even more here.
Cardinals vs Pirates Betting Trends
Cardinals vs Pirates Viewing Info: Channel, Start Time, Streaming
| Location: | PNC Park |
| Date: | Monday, April 7 |
| Time: | 6:40 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming Options: | SportsNet-PIT; FanDuel Sports Midwest; MLB.TV |
