Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 6/13/2022

Time: 7:45 p.m. ET

Venue: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO

Where to watch: AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, Bally Sports Midwest

DraftKings: Cardinals -190, Pirates +160

BetMGM: Cardinals -190, Pirates +155

Caesars: Cardinals -185, Pirates +165

Pirates: 24-34

Cardinals: 34-27

There was a period about six games ago when the Pittsburgh Pirates were looking promising and nearing .500, showing the world that maybe they were ready to turn the corner in turning into a competent baseball team.

Then we remembered they are the Pittsburgh Pirates and there is no reason to believe they'll be this good ever again. Following a stretch of winning five of six, the Pirates have lost six straight with series losses to the Detroit Tigers and the red-hot Atlanta Braves.

Now the Pirates continue an eight-game road trip Monday with a four-game set against the now first-place St. Louis Cardinals, who are coming off a series win over the Cincinnati Reds, taking two of three following a three-game sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays.

I think we've been waiting for the Pirates' offense to hit a wall considering the pitching has carried them pretty far. This six-game losing streak has been evidence that the offense has a long ways to go before being considered dangerous.

The Pirates have scored a grand total of 14 runs during this losing streak, and capped it off with a 5-3 loss to the Braves on Sunday to complete the four-game sweep to the defending World Series champions. It was the fifth time this season the Pirates have been swept and lost for the seventh straight time in Atlanta by a combined score of 55-13.

"We need to get out of Atlanta," Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said. "That's a good baseball team."

Tucupita Marcano went 3 for 4 in the leadoff spot, and Bryan Reynolds finally broke out of his prolonged slump going 2 for 3 with a two-run homer and driving in three runs. Other than that, the Pirates got no offense. Ke'Bryan Hayes went 0 for 4, Daniel Vogelbach did have a hit, but the Pirates just went cold.

They can't afford that ice-cold feeling against the dangerous hitting of the Cardinals, who have vaulted to the top of the NL Central by way of the Milwaukee Brewers turning into a complete dumpster fire before our very eyes. The Cardinals have taken advantage of the Brewers' recently-ended eight-game losing streak by winning two of their last three series.

The last was winning two of three against the Reds, despite losing the finale 7-6 at home. The Cardinals  totaled 12 hits and nearly pulled off the comeback in the ninth, but failed to get that last run home. Four players combined for nine of those 12 hits, with Tommy Edman and Nolan Gorman having two each.

Juan Yepez hit a homer, as did Nolan Arenado. I don't think we're talking enough about the mashing Nolans in St. Louis.

"I made a couple calls to my dad, he saw a few things in what I was doing," Yepez said.

Good ol' Dad, always helping out.

Zack Thompson is expected to take the mound for the Cardinals in the opener, with Mitch Keller -- off to a 2-5 start for the Pirates -- getting the call for the road team.

I wouldn't be shocked if the Cardinals ended this series with a sweep. This first game will go a long way in figuring out if that will be true, but I like the Cardinals to take the first game regardless just because of how they will out-class the Pirates at the plate. Cardinals win 8-4

Pirates are 8-16 as an underdog of +150 or more this season.

Pirates are 10-15 as a road underdog this season.

Cardinals are 50-36 as a home favorite the past three seasons.

Pirates:
Tucupita Marcano (L) 2B
Bryan Reynolds (S) CF
Ke'Bryan Hayes (R) 3B
Daniel Vogelbach (L) DH
Jack Suwinski (L) LF
Michael Chavis (R) 1B
Cal Mitchell (L) RF
Michael Perez (L) C
Diego Castillo (R) SS
SP - Mitch Keller

Cardinals:
Tommy Edman (S) SS
Nolan Gorman (L) DH
Paul Goldschmidt (R) 1B
Nolan Arenado (R) 3B
Tyler O'Neill (R) LF
Brendan Donovan (L) 2B
Dylan Carlson (S) RF
Yadier Molina (R) C
Harrison Bader (R) CF
SP - Zack Thompson

Batting average: Ke'Bryan Hayes -- .277

Home runs: Bryan Reynolds -- 10

RBI: Ke'Bryan Hayes -- 21

Wins: Dillon Peters -- 4

ERA: Jose Quintana -- 3.53

Batting average: Paul Goldschmidt -- .327

Home runs: Paul Goldschmidt -- 12

RBI: Paul Goldschmidt -- 47

Wins: Adam Wainwright -- 5

ERA: Adam Wainwright -- 2.84