Pirates vs. Cardinals Prediction
National League Central rivals will meet for opening day at Busch Stadium on Thursday afternoon when the Cardinals host the Pirates at 4:15 p.m. ET. Even with the total only sitting at 8 runs, is the under a good play?
Game Snapshot
973 Pittsburgh Pirates (+178) at 974 St. Louis Cardinals (-195); o/u 8
4:15 p.m. ET, Thursday, April 7, 2022
Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
Pittsburgh Pirates DFS SPIN
Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Ke’Bryan Hayes (ankle) is expected to be in the Pirates’ Opening Day lineup. Nothing official yet from the team, but Hayes has been progressing towards an early season return from a minor ankle injury this spring. It sounds like he’s going to avoid a trip to the injured list at the outset of the regular season and could be in there on Thursday afternoon against the Cardinals. He’s looking like a literal game-time decision at the moment.
St. Louis Cardinals DFS Spin
Albert Pujols will start at designated hitter for the Cardinals in Thursday’s Opening Day matchup against the Pirates. It’s entirely brand-new and nostalgic at the same time. Pujols is back with the Cardinals to make his 22nd consecutive Opening Day start and will be the first-ever designated hitter for the home squad at Busch Stadium on Thursday afternoon. There isn’t a ton of fantasy relevance here, but we’d be lying if we didn’t find this Cardinals’ reunion tour a bit compelling, right?
Pirates vs. Cardinals MLB BETTING PREDICTION
The under is 7-3-3 in the last 13 meetings between these two teams and is 3-0-3 in the last six meetings at Busch Stadium. The under is also 5-1 in the Cardinals’ last six games dating back to last season, is 5-1 in their last six games when they’re listed as a favorite and is 16-5 in their last 21 games when playing the first contest of a new series.
MLB BETTING PREDICTION: PIRATES/CARDINALS UNDER 8