1:00 pm
April 1

Cardinals @ Pirates

Who will WIN this matchup?

St. Louis Cardinals (1-3)

@ Pittsburgh Pirates (1-1)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Wainwright (STL): 0-0; 0.00 ERA

Archer (PIT) 0-0; 0.00 ERA

 

Last 10 Games Played:

St. Louis Cardinals: 1-3

Pittsburgh Pirates: 1-1

 

Current odds:

St. Louis Cardinals: (+119)

Pittsburgh Pirates: (-129)

 

• The St. Louis Cardinals have finished ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the division standings for 19 consecutive years. They’ll try to get a leg up on making it 20 when the National League Central rivals meet for a quick two-game set starting Monday in Pittsburgh. St. Louis could use a boost after a rough opening weekend that culminated with a 5-4 walk-off loss at Milwaukee. The Cardinals dropped three of four in Milwaukee, but offseason acquisition Paul Goldschmidt had a huge series with four home runs.

• The Pirates split two games in Cincinnati over the weekend, including a 5-0 victory Sunday. Pittsburgh is short-handed to start the season with several key players on the injured list, including Gregory Polanco and Lonnie Chisenhall.

• Retirement rumors surrounded Wainwright after the 37-year-old was limited to eight starts last season, but he was sharp during spring training and posted a 2.51 ERA over 14 1/3 innings. Wainwright has added pitches to his repertoire as he tries to transition from a power pitcher to a more finesse approach. Wainwright is 13-7 with a 4.36 ERA in 37 games (31 starts) against the Pirates, including a 6-4 record and 5.54 ERA in 18 games (14 starts) at PNC Park.

• After a rough start with the Pirates following last year’s trade from Tampa Bay, Archer was dominant in September. The 30-year-old posted a 2.70 ERA and held opponents to a .217 average over his last five starts of 2018, racking up 36 strikeouts in 30 innings. Archer has faced the Cardinals twice without a decision, throwing seven innings of one-run ball in 2017 and getting roughed up for five runs (three earned) in 4 1/3 innings last season.

• Goldschmidt is the first St. Louis player with four home runs in the team’s first four games since Mark McGwire in 1998.

• Pirates 1B Josh Bell is 5-for-10 with a homer versus Wainwright.

• Cardinals 2B Kolten Wong has hit safely in all four games and is batting .571 with a team-best 1.671 OPS.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Pittsburgh Pirates
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