Cardinals vs. Pirates Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Saturday, April 15, 2023

April 15, 2023, by Matt Rooney MLB Predictions

The St. Louis Cardinals (6-8) are favorites (-203) on the moneyline when they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (8-6) Saturday at 2:15 PM ET, live on BSMW.

Steven Matz gets the starting nod for St. Louis while Roansy Contreras is Pittsburgh’s starter for the contest.

Cardinals vs. Pirates Odds

Cardinals odds to win: -203
Pirates odds to win: +171
Spread: Cardinals -1.5
Total: 9 runs

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Game Time and Information

Date: Saturday, April 15, 2023
Time: 2:15 PM ET
TV: BSMW

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Who Will Win Cardinals vs. Pirates?

Cardinals and Pirates Betting Trends

The Cardinals have won 55.6% of the games this season when they were the moneyline favorite (5-4).

St. Louis has played as moneyline favorites of -203 or shorter in only one game this season, which it lost.

The Pirates have entered the game as underdogs 13 times this season and won seven, or 53.8%, of those games.

Pittsburgh has played as an underdog of +171 or more once this season and won that game.

The Cardinals have combined with opponents to go over the total four times this season for a 4-9-1 record against the over/under.

The Pirates’ games have gone over the total in six of their 14 chances.

Cardinals Stats & Insights

The Cardinals rank 23rd in runs scored with 59, 4.2 per game.

St. Louis is 12th in MLB action with 16 home runs. They average 1.1 per game.

The Cardinals’ .276 batting average is fifth-best in MLB.

St. Louis’ 8.2 strikeouts per game rank 11th in baseball.

The Cardinals pitching staff is 10th in the majors with a collective 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings.

St. Louis has a 4.54 team ERA that ranks 14th among all MLB pitching staffs.

Pirates Stats & Insights

The Pirates have scored the 26th-most runs in the league this season with just 56 (4.0 per game).

Pittsburgh’s 17 home runs rank 10th in Major League Baseball.

The Pirates have a team batting average of .232 this season, which ranks 25th among MLB teams.

Pittsburgh ranks 11th in MLB in strikeouts per game with an average of 8.2 Ks per contest.

The Pirates average the 23rd-most strikeouts per nine innings (8.3) in the league this season.

Pittsburgh has pitched to a 4.46 ERA this season, which ranks 13th in baseball.

Cardinals Key Players to Watch

Matz (0-2) pitches for the Cardinals to make his third start of the season.

Nolan Arenado leads St. Louis in batting average (.357) and runs batted in (13) this season.

Nolan Gorman is slugging .692 this season, with a team-best four homers while driving in 12 runs.

Paul Goldschmidt is slashing .333/.460/.490 this season for the Cardinals.

Brendan Donovan has 12 hits and an OBP of .286 to go with a slugging percentage of .392 this season.

Pirates Key Players to Watch

The Pirates will send Contreras to the mound for his third start of the season.

Bryan Reynolds leads the Pirates with five home runs and 14 runs batted in, while accumulating a team-high batting average of .333.

Andrew McCutchen is batting .316 with three doubles, a home run and 10 walks.

Carlos Santana is batting .250 with five doubles, two home runs and six walks.

Ji-Hwan Bae has two doubles, two home runs and three walks while hitting .238.

Cardinals and Pirates Injuries

Cardinals: Paul DeJong: 10 Day IL (Back), Packy Naughton: 15 Day IL (Left forearm), Adam Wainwright: 15 Day IL (Groin), Wilking Rodriguez: 15 Day IL (Shoulder)

Pirates: Ji-Man Choi: 10 Day IL (Achilles), Chase De Jong: 15 Day IL (Knee), Oneil Cruz: 60 Day IL (Ankle), Jarlin García: 60 Day IL (Arm), Max Kranick: 60 Day IL (Elbow), JT Brubaker: 60 Day IL (Elbow)