The St. Louis Cardinals are set to face the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opening game of a three-game series on Monday at PNC Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET. Both teams enter this matchup with positive momentum; the Cardinals recently completed a series sweep against the Cleveland Guardians, outscoring them 21-6 over the three games. Notably, Nolan Gorman has shown significant improvement, hitting his seventh homer and accumulating 16 RBIs over the past month.
On the other hand, the Pirates similarly swept the New York Mets, overpowering them with a combined score of 30-4, highlighted by Oneil Cruz’s impressive two-homer performance on Sunday. This winning streak has bolstered the Pirates’ confidence, and they hold a 5-2 record over their last seven games.
In terms of starting pitchers, right-hander Erick Fedde from the Cardinals will take the mound against left-hander Andrew Heaney of the Pirates. Fedde, despite struggling in his last outing, has had success historically against the Pirates with a 2.05 ERA in his career starts against them. Meanwhile, Heaney has struggled against the Cardinals, holding a difficult 11.57 ERA in three prior matchups.
The betting odds for this game from BetMGM Sportsbook indicate equal chances for both teams, with each side listed at -110 on the moneyline, reflecting a close matchup. Experts predict a final score favoring the Cardinals at 6-4, considering their strong recent performances and Heaney’s past challenges against them.
One point to consider is the forecast for rain, which may affect gameplay and betting decisions. Regardless, the Cardinals have shown strength and adaptability, suggesting that they might clinch a win in this evening showdown.
This matchup is notable not just for the current standings, but also for the potential of both teams to build on their recent successes as they strive for better positions in the league.