Jun 5, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
- Rookie Paul Skenes faces veteran Miles Mikolas in St Louis on Tuesday
- The Pirates have averaged 9.0 runs per game in Skenes’ first five MLB starts
- See the Pittsburgh Pirates vs St Louis Cardinals odds, predictions, and props to target on June 11
With rookie phenom Paul Skenes making his sixth career start, the Pittsburgh Pirates (31-34, 15-17 away) visit the St Louis Cardinals (31-33, 15-14 home) on Tuesday night for the first of a three-game set at Busch Stadium at 6:45 pm CT/7:45 pm ET.
The Pirates enter Tuesday off a loss to Minnesota on Sunday but they have won four of their last six and are now just half a game behind the Cardinals in the NL Central. St Louis has alternated wins and losses over its last six games, winning last time out against Colorado.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs St Louis Cardinals Predictions
- Pirates moneyline (-130) at BetMGM
- Skenes over 7.5 Ks (+114) at FanDuel
Skenes has been as advertised since making the jump to the bigs. In five career starts, the 6’6 righty has averaged 99.4 MPH on his four-seam fastball and has a strikeout percentage of 35.5%, which would be the best in the entire MLB if Skenes had enough innings to qualify for the leaderboards. His 3.04 FIP would place him 16th in the majors.
Skenes has recorded at least eight Ks in three of his five starts and at least seven in four of five. The only time he didn’t was against the Giants on May 23, when he was held to just three Ks.
He’s already jumped to second in the National League Rookie of the Year odds, trailing only the Cubs’ Shota Imanaga.
The Cardinals are league-average in terms of striking out; they currently sit 15th in the majors with a K-rate of 22.4%. But they’re nearer the bottom of the league in both wOBA (.303, 21st) and wRC+ (97, 18th), meaning it’s not likely that the STL bats chase Skenes from the game early.
On the other side, Mikolas has been mediocre at best this season with a 5.32 ERA and 4.59 xERA. His K% of 17.8% puts him just 64th among qualified pitchers.
That said, he has gone at least 6.0 innings in each of his last three starts while allowing just eight total runs (no more than three per start), and he’s actually lowered his ERA by nearly a full run over his last four outings.
But his numbers against the Pirates lineup are ugly. In 119 total at-bats, Pittsburgh hitters are slashing .286/.303/.437 against the 35-year-old righty.Ke’Bryan Hayes is a scorching 8-for-16 with a double and a triple off Mikolas, while Oneil Cruz is 2-for-4 with a double and a triple as well.
Paul Skenes vs Miles Mikolas
| 3-0 | Record | 4-6 |
| 3.00 | ERA | 5.32 |
| 2.79 | xERA | 4.59 |
| 1.00 | WHIP | 1.28 |
| 35.5% | K% | 17.8% |
Pirates vs Cardinals Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Runline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Pirates (Skenes) | -130 | -1.5 (+136) | O 7.5 (-109) |
| St Louis Cardinals (Mikolas) | +110 | +1.5 (-162) | U 7.5 (-112) |
Tuesday’s MLB odds show a decent range for Pirates vs Cardinals. The best price on the Pittsburgh moneyline is -130 at BetMGM – which is where the odds in the table above come from – while the best Cardinals moneyline is +116 at FanDuel.
The game total is 7.5 across the board but bettors can get the over at -105 at ESPN Bet and the under at -110 at bet365, where they can also claim the bet365 promo code.
Sascha was a hockey player in his youth, a lawyer in his capricious mid-20s, and has been with SBD since 2014. He specializes in football, basketball, politics, baseball, and hockey.
On June 11, the Pittsburgh Pirates will face off against the St. Louis Cardinals in what is sure to be an exciting matchup. Both teams have had their ups and downs this season, but they will be looking to come out on top in this game.
When it comes to the odds for this game, the St. Louis Cardinals are currently favored to win. The Cardinals have a strong lineup and have been playing well recently, so it’s no surprise that they are the favorites in this matchup. However, the Pittsburgh Pirates should not be counted out, as they have shown that they can compete with some of the best teams in the league.
In terms of predictions for this game, it’s always tough to say for sure who will come out on top. Both teams have talented players who are capable of making big plays, so it could really go either way. However, if the Cardinals can continue to play at the level they have been recently, they should have a good chance of coming out on top in this game.
As for player props, one player to keep an eye on is Skenes, who is known for his impressive strikeout numbers. In this game, the over/under for Skenes’ strikeouts is set at 7.5. Skenes has been pitching well this season and has the ability to rack up strikeouts, so it will be interesting to see if he can hit the over in this game.
Overall, this matchup between the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals is sure to be a thrilling one. With both teams looking to secure a win, fans can expect to see some intense competition on the field. Whether you’re rooting for the Pirates or the Cardinals, this game is definitely one to watch.
