On Tuesday evening, a pivotal game in Major League Baseball unfolds as the Pittsburgh Pirates (71-78, 79-70 RL, 72-73-4 O/U) square off against the St. Louis Cardinals (74-75, 75-74 RL, 69-75-5 O/U). The Pirates will send Bailey Falter to the mound, while the Cardinals will counter with Lance Lynn. The Cardinals currently hold a narrow edge in the season series, leading 5-4.
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Falter’s Resurgence with Pittsburgh
Bailey Falter is set to take the mound for the Pirates. In his last appearance, he delivered a stellar performance, throwing 7.1 scoreless innings against the Marlins, earning a well-deserved victory. Despite facing challenges in August, Falter has bounced back with a 2.19 ERA this month, bringing his season totals to a 4.20 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP across 126.2 innings. Historically, he has struggled against the Cardinals, allowing eight runs in 17.2 innings, which results in a 4.08 ERA and a 1-1 record.
This game marks the start of a crucial road trip for Pittsburgh. While they had a rough August, they have shown improvement lately, winning two of their last four series, including a sweep of the Marlins last week. However, they faltered in their recent home series against the Royals, scoring only eight runs while allowing 16. The team currently sits five games below .500 in away games.
A key player for Pittsburgh is Andrew McCutchen, who is enjoying a productive month with six RBIs and an impressive .878 OPS. He has hit 20 home runs this season, driving in 50 runs with a .760 OPS overall. However, McCutchen has struggled against the Cardinals this season, contributing just two RBIs and a .535 OPS. Notably, injuries have sidelined Oneil Cruz and Ke’Bryan Hayes.
The Pirates are currently averaging 4.21 runs per game, placing them 20th in the league. Their pitching staff has a collective ERA of 4.12, ranking 18th overall.
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Lynn Takes the Hill for St. Louis
Lance Lynn will be the Cardinals’ starter for this matchup. Lynn’s last outing was impressive as he limited the Reds to just one run over five innings, although it resulted in a no-decision. He has been on a roll recently, allowing only one run in his last three starts, sporting a 3.96 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP with a 6-4 record in 111.1 innings this season. Against the Pirates this year, Lynn has been effective, allowing only three runs in 9.1 innings, though he holds a career ERA of 5.13 against them in 128 innings.
St. Louis has displayed inconsistency in their recent performances. They have won three of their last five series but faced a sweep at the hands of the Blue Jays, despite allowing only 15 runs over those three games. The Cardinals have been out of playoff contention for some time and currently maintain a four-game advantage over .500 at home.
Nolan Arenado has been relatively quiet lately, contributing just three RBIs and a .554 OPS this month. He has accumulated 16 home runs and 66 RBIs this season, with a .711 OPS. Against the Pirates, his performance has also dipped, with only two RBIs and a .721 OPS.
The Cardinals are currently averaging 4.08 runs per game, which ranks them 25th in the league. Their pitching staff has a 4.11 ERA, ranking them 18th overall.
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Smart Bets for Pirates vs. Cardinals
The Pittsburgh Pirates have gained momentum, winning four of their last six games. Conversely, the St. Louis Cardinals have struggled, winning just three of their last eight games prior to Monday. They recently suffered a sweep against the Blue Jays. In their last series against the Cardinals, the Pirates secured two victories out of three matchups.
