Who claims Cardinals-Pirates series opener?
It’s no longer a bout between the top two teams in the majors. Still, this weekend’s Cardinals-Pirates clash promises to be chock-full of intrigue.
The fierce National League Central rivals kick off a three-game set tonight, with an 8:15 p.m. ET first pitch at Busch Stadium. Oddsmakers at online sports book BetDSI give the initial edge to the host club. Pittsburgh enters as a +110 underdog, while the over/under sits at 7.5 runs.
St. Louis (15-14) is just beginning to resemble the group that claimed last year’s division title with 100 wins. Using strong pitching and timely hitting, Mike Matheny’s troops took three of four from Philadelphia. The skipper hands the ball to Carlos Martinez (4-1, 2.60 ERA) here in hopes that the righty will wash away his past transgressions against the Buccos. Martinez has compiled a 2-2 record with a 5.12 ERA in five meetings with Pittsburgh.
Clint Hurdle, naturally, feels nothing but confident about his hurler du jour. Francisco Liriano (2-1, 3.86) ushered in the 2016 campaign by blanking the Redbirds for six innings and striking out 10. He’s 3-0 with a 1.97 ERA in five starts in the Gateway City and 6-2 with a 2.44 ERA in 14 overall matchups.
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Can the bats come to the aid of the stellar lefty, though? In much the same manner that the Pirates (15-13) continue to search for last season’s 98-victory form, Andrew McCutchen remains hungry to replicate his old-school numbers at the plate. Aside from a recent outburst at Coors Field, the 2013 MVP’s power figures (six homers and 12 RBIs) elicit shrugs. He’s far from a safe bet to ravage Martinez, but the center fielder should have quite a bit of company in that regard. Expect a nip-and-tuck affair initiated by a pair of powerhouse arms.
FRIDAY MLB FREE PICK: PIRATES/CARDINALS UNDER 7.5 RUNS
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