St. Louis Cardinals vs Pittsburgh Pirates Picks and Predictions for Tuesday April 28 2026
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The St. Louis Cardinals travel to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 PM and coverage available on MLB.TV. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. This matchup features two teams sitting above .500 and looking to gain ground early in the season, making it a compelling contest on the Tuesday slate. For bettors looking to stay sharp across the league, don’t miss today’s updated insights and trends—check out the latest free MLB picks.
Starting Pitchers Breakdown
St. Louis is expected to hand the ball to Kyle Leahy, who enters with a 2-3 record, a 5.63 ERA, and a 1.67 WHIP across 24.0 innings. He has allowed 29 hits while striking out 15 batters and issuing 11 walks, along with surrendering four home runs. Pittsburgh will counter with Bubba Chandler, who comes in with a 1-2 record, a 4.88 ERA, and a 1.50 WHIP over 24.0 innings. Chandler has given up 20 hits while recording 21 strikeouts and 16 walks, also allowing four home runs.
Cardinals Looking to Snap Recent Slide
The Cardinals enter this game with a 14-13 record overall and a solid 7-5 mark on the road. However, their recent form has taken a downturn, as they have dropped four of their last five games. St. Louis recently lost a series of close contests, including multiple narrow defeats and a high-scoring loss, before picking up a win earlier in the stretch. The recent stretch shows a team struggling to close out games despite being competitive.
From a statistical standpoint, St. Louis holds a .235 team batting average with 125 runs scored and 212 hits on the season. They have hit 34 home runs while posting a .324 on-base percentage and a .390 slugging percentage. On the mound, the Cardinals have a 4.87 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP, allowing opponents to hit .261 against them. Their pitching staff has issued 105 walks while recording 182 strikeouts.
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One noticeable concern for St. Louis has been their pitching performance, as indicated by their 4.87 ERA and .261 opponent batting average. These numbers suggest that opposing offenses have been able to generate consistent contact and scoring opportunities, which has played a role in their recent struggles.
Pirates Building Momentum at Home
Pittsburgh comes into this matchup with a 16-12 record and an impressive 8-5 record at home. The Pirates have been playing solid baseball lately, winning three of their last five games. They recently secured a pair of victories, including a shutout win and an extra-innings triumph, while also suffering a couple of losses in that stretch. Overall, their recent performances show a team capable of bouncing back and producing strong results.
Offensively, Pittsburgh is hitting .241 as a team with 135 runs and 234 hits. They have hit 29 home runs and carry a .325 on-base percentage along with a .372 slugging percentage. On the pitching side, the Pirates have been effective, posting a 3.34 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP while holding opponents to a .219 batting average. Their staff has issued 110 walks and recorded an impressive 261 strikeouts.
A key strength for Pittsburgh has been their pitching staff, as reflected in their 3.34 ERA and .219 opponent batting average. These numbers indicate an ability to limit opposing offenses and control games, which has been a major factor in their success so far this season.
Cardinals vs Pirates Picks and Prediction
Cardinals vs Pirates Pick
Pick: Pirates Moneyline
Pittsburgh appears to have the edge in this matchup based on the data provided. The Pirates have been stronger on the mound with a significantly lower ERA and WHIP compared to St. Louis, while also limiting opponents to a much lower batting average. Additionally, Pittsburgh has performed well at home and has shown the ability to win games in different ways. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are coming off a stretch where they have struggled to secure wins, and their pitching numbers suggest vulnerability. With these factors in play, the Pirates look like the more reliable option.
Cardinals vs Pirates Total Pick
Pick: Over 8.5
I’m leaning toward the over in this matchup due to the combination of St. Louis’ higher ERA and Pittsburgh’s ability to generate runs. The Cardinals’ pitching staff has allowed consistent contact, and their recent games have included both close contests and higher-scoring outcomes. While Pittsburgh has solid pitching numbers overall, both starters have ERAs above 4.00, which could lead to scoring opportunities on both sides. Based on the data provided, this game has the potential to produce enough offense to push the total over.
Final Score Prediction: Pirates 6 – Cardinals 4
This prediction was written before the completion of game play on Monday.
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