- Matchup: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals
- Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026
- Venue: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
- Broadcast: Cardinals.TV
- Betting Odds: Pittsburgh (-196) St. Louis (+162)
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The St. Louis Cardinals (27-18) aim to take down the Pittsburgh Pirates (24-22) at Busch Stadium this Wednesday. The moneyline for this matchup places Pittsburgh at -196 while St. Louis opens with +162. The over/under stands at 8. Starting pitchers are expected to be Carmen Mlodzinski and Michael McGreevy.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are producing an impressive 4.9 runs per game, ranking 7th in the league. With a total of 229 runs scored, they hold a team on-base percentage of .332. The Pirates have registered 68 doubles and hit 49 home runs this season, totaling 220 RBIs and 404 hits, resulting in a team batting average of .248. Their slugging percentage sits at .388, having struck out 431 times while drawing 187 walks.
The Pirates have achieved a K/BB ratio of 2.51 and their pitching staff boasts a collective WHIP of 1.23. Pirates pitchers have allowed 39 home runs and 211 total runs (ranking 18th in the league). They’ve given up 360 hits, averaging 7.6 hits per 9 innings, and recorded 185 earned runs. Their earned run average stands at 3.88 (11th in the league), supported by 421 strikeouts. The pitching staff has walked 168 batters, with a FIP of 3.69 as the season progresses.
This season, the Pirates have utilized 160 relief pitchers. These relievers have inherited 56 runners, with 35.7% of those scoring. The bullpen has secured 27 holds (12th in MLB) and faced 46 occasions with inherited runners. They recorded 8 saves out of 19 chances, reflecting a 42.1% save rate across 47 save opportunities.
The Pirates convert 70.8% of balls in play into outs, ranking 9th in Major League Baseball. With a total of 1,286 putouts, 392 assists, and 25 errors, their fielding percentage stands at .985, placing them 21st in the league, alongside 34 double plays.
Mlodzinski has pitched 230 innings in his career, tallying 212 strikeouts. With a career record of 16-19, he holds a FIP of 3.43 and has faced 977 batters in Major League play. His ERA is 3.48 (89 earned runs) with a career WHIP of 1.303, allowing 220 hits (8.6 hits per 9 innings) alongside 80 walks.
The St. Louis Cardinals have recorded an on-base percentage of .321 and a batting average of .241 this season. They have struck out 375 times (21st in MLB) and collected 373 hits. The Cardinals boast 51 home runs and 202 RBIs, paired with a slugging percentage of .388. Averaging 4.52 runs per game (11th in MLB), they have 70 doubles and 158 walks, leading to 208 total runs scored.
St. Louis holds a team WHIP of 1.368, with a FIP of 4.45. Their K/BB ratio is 7.20 (330 strikeouts vs 173 walks). Ranking 22nd in hits allowed (395), they have surrendered 49 home runs and allow 4.44 runs per 9 innings (17th in the league). Overall, the Cardinals’ pitching staff has given up 205 runs and maintains a 4.12 ERA (190 earned runs allowed).
Ranked 11th in MLB with a 68.0% save percentage, they have sent 165 relievers to the mound this season. The bullpen has appeared 59 times in critical situations and 49 times with runners on base. In 68 save opportunities, the Cardinals achieved 41 holds and 8 blown saves. Across 25 save scenarios, they have secured 17 saves, and their inherited runner score percentage stands at 36.8%.
The St. Louis Cardinals have executed 48 double plays and sport a fielding percentage of .988 (11th in MLB). They have registered 450 assists, 21 errors, and accumulated 1,246 putouts this season. Their defensive efficiency is 70.2% over 3,738 innings (16th in MLB).
Throughout his career, McGreevy has allowed 150 hits while earning 112 strikeouts over 169 innings pitched. He has given up 64 earned runs, resulting in a WHIP of 1.081 and a FIP of 3.4. With a K/BB ratio of 3.39, he has faced 677 batters, holding a career record of 14-6 and an ERA of 3.40, allowing 8.0 hits per 9 innings.
Who will triumph in tonight’s MLB game against the spread or moneyline?
Recommendation: Back Pittsburgh (-196)
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