MLB Picks 4/13 – Pittsburgh Pirates @ St. Louis Cardinals

MLB Picks 4/13 – Pittsburgh Pirates @ St. Louis Cardinals

by Thomas Quaynor – MLB analyst for Wannamakeabet.com

The Pittsburgh Pirates (7-5) visit the St. Louis Cardinals (5-7) in the opening game of a 4-game series tonight at Busch Stadium. This will be the first meeting between the NL Central combatants. Tonight’s starting pitchers are Vince Velasquez (0-2, 9.82 ERA) for Pittsburgh and Jordan Montgomery (2-0, 2.25 ERA) for St. Louis.

GAME ODDS

Moneyline: Pittsburgh +225, St. Louis -275

Run Line: Pittsburgh +1.5 (+114), St. Louis -1.5 (-134)

Run Total: over 8.5 (-120) under 8.5 (-102)

GAME STORYLINES

The Pittsburgh Pirates have lost 100+ games for the past two seasons and have finished last in the NL Central for four straight seasons. They’ve gotten off to a respectable 7-5 start early in the season and enter tonight’s game on a 3-game road winning streak. Leading the way for Pittsburgh is left fielder Bryan Reynolds, who has gotten off to a tremendous start hitting .347 with 5 homers and 14 RBIs. Pittsburgh’s ace is Mitch Keller, he’s 1-0 with a 3.57 ERA in his three starts on the year. 

Pittsburgh added two notable veterans this offseason in 43-year-old starting pitcher Rich Hill and franchise icon 36-year-old Andrew McCutchen. Hill made his MLB debut in 2005 with the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh will be his 12th MLB team. McCutchen was drafted 11th overall in 2005 by Pittsburgh, he then starred for 9 seasons (2009-2017), was named the 2013 NL MVP, and led Pittsburgh to three straight postseason appearances in 2013, 2014 and 2015.  

Pittsburgh suffered a devastating blow when 24-year-old star shortstop Oneil Cruz fractured his left ankle after a slide to home plate against the Chicago White Sox on April 9, he will miss the next 4 months! Coming into this season, Cruz was expected to be the cornerstone of the franchise after hitting 17 homers and 54 RBIs in 87 games after beng called up from Triple-A Indianapolis last June.

The defending NL Central champion St. Louis Cardinals have gotten off to a somewhat slow start at 5-7, but they are expected to be among the elite teams again this year. St. Louis boasts one of the best offenses in baseball led by 2022 MVP Paul Goldschmidt, who hit .317 with 35 homers and 115 RBIs in 2022. He’s come back strong this year leading the team in batting average (.364) and doubles (4).  The lineup also features stars in third baseman Nolan Arenado (.327, 13 RBIs), newly acquired 3-time all-star Wilson Contreras and 20-year-old rookie phenom Jordan Walker. 

Jordan Walker is off to a historic start as he’s hit safely in all 12 games to start the season, he’s hitting .319 with 2 homers and 8 RBIs. If he gets a hit tonight, he’ll break a 111-year record of the longest streak to begin a career by a hitter age 20 or younger.  

THE PICK

I like St. Louis tonight, they are the better team (despite the record) and they are at home!