- Matchup: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals
- Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
- Venue: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
- Broadcast: Cardinals.TV
- Betting Odds: Pittsburgh (-196) | St. Louis (+162)
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This Saturday, Busch Stadium will host an exciting clash between the St. Louis Cardinals (67-68) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (65-70). The current betting line places Pittsburgh at -196 and St. Louis at +162, with a game total set at 8 runs. Pitching duties will be handled by Carmen Mlodzinski and Kyle Leahy.
The Pirates boast a slugging percentage of .404 and have been struck out 1,278 times while earning 479 walks. Their season totals include 627 RBIs and 1,172 hits, contributing to a team batting average of .252. Pittsburgh has recorded 204 doubles and hit 158 home runs, with a total of 657 runs, giving them an on-base percentage of .329. As a team, the Pirates are averaging 4.9 runs per game, placing them 5th in the league.
Pittsburgh has achieved a K/BB ratio of 2.50, and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.32. They have surrendered 134 home runs and 633 runs total (23rd in the league). The pitching staff has allowed 1,087 hits (averaging 8.1 hits per 9 innings) along with 565 earned runs, resulting in a team ERA of 4.22 (19th in MLB) with 1,249 strikeouts. Opponents have walked 499 times, and the team’s FIP stands at 3.88.
The bullpen has recorded a save percentage of 56.3%, facing 100 save situations with 27 successful saves against 21 blown opportunities. Relief pitchers have inherited 158 base runners, with 32.9% crossing home plate. The Pirates’ relievers have taken the mound 113 times with runners on base and made 121 high-leverage appearances this season. A total of 433 relief pitchers have stepped into the game, leading to 51 holds (29th in the league).
The Pittsburgh Pirates have executed 3,616 putouts alongside 1,061 assists and accumulated 84 errors, establishing a fielding percentage of .982 (27th in baseball) with 112 double plays. They’ve converted 68.7% of balls in play into outs during their 10,848 innings, ranking 27th in this metric.
Carmen Mlodzinski has pitched in 290 innings and recorded 254 strikeouts throughout his professional career. With a win-loss record of 19-22, he has achieved a FIP of 3.54 after facing 1,246 batters. His ERA stands at 3.60 (116 earned runs) with a WHIP of 1.340 and has allowed 289 hits (9.0 hits per nine innings) while issuing 100 walks.
The Cardinals represent a SLG% of .383 and score an average of 4.44 runs per game (18th in the league). With 190 doubles, they’ve also drawn 435 walks and tallied 600 runs. This season, they’ve hit 141 home runs while recording 585 RBIs. Striking out 1,060 times (26th in MLB), St. Louis has gathered 1,095 hits, achieving a team OBP of .317 and a batting average of .241.
On the pitching side, the Cardinals have conceded 613 runs with a team ERA of 4.24 (567 earned runs). They have allowed 134 home runs, giving up 4.59 runs per 9 innings (19th in MLB). Their WHIP is 1.342, with a team FIP of 4.07. The staff holds a K/BB ratio of 7.80 (1,046 strikeouts against 454 walks). Currently, they rank 26th in MLB in total hits allowed (1,160).
Ranked 17th in MLB with a save rate of 61.9%, the Cardinals have sent 454 relievers to the mound this season. Their bullpen has faced 168 high-leverage situations and has dealt with runners on base 137 times. With 154 save opportunities, the Cardinals have achieved 87 holds and experienced 24 blown saves, successfully converting 39 of their 63 save chances. The relief pitchers have inherited 206 opportunities, with a 39.3% score rate.
Over the course of 10,827 innings played, the Cardinals possess a defensive efficiency of 69.2% (23rd in baseball). They have executed 133 double plays and maintain a fielding percentage of .989, ranking 4th in the majors. This season, the team has notched 1,264 assists, 56 errors, and recorded 3,609 putouts.
Kyle Leahy has allowed 251 hits during his MLB tenure while racking up 230 strikeouts in 264 innings pitched. With a career win-loss record of 15-8, he has maintained a 3.41 ERA, permitting 8.6 hits per nine innings. He has faced 1,100 opponents, yielding a total of 100 earned runs with a WHIP of 1.253 and a FIP of 3.4. His K/BB ratio is 2.88.
Who will emerge victorious in tonight’s MLB showdown against the spread or moneyline?
Prediction: Back Pittsburgh (-196)
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