St Louis (26-21) at Pittsburgh (27-22)
When: Friday, May 25th 2018
Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: FS Midwest, AT&T Sportsnet-Pittsburgh
Opening Odds: Pittsburgh -108/8.5
Its a battle for second place in the National League Central as the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates begin a three-game weekend series Friday night at PNC Park as John Gant opposes Joe Musgrove. The Cardinals dropped two of three at home to Kansas City, scoring just three runs total in the last two contests, while Pittsburgh also went 1-2 against last-place Cincinnati, but will begin a six-game homestand that will also bring in the Chicago Cubs next week. Musgrove, who was a key part of the Gerrit Cole trade to Houston, will make his debut after pitching in four rehab assignments. Pittsburgh rookie Austin Meadows (11-for-25, five RBIs, four runs scored) blasted his third homer in six games in Thursday’s 5-4 setback in Cincinnati since being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. Pittsburgh has dropped five of six overall, while the Cardinals are just 4-7 in their last 11 contests. Marcell Ozuna overslept and was a late scratch in Wednesday’s 5-2 loss to the Royals, but is expected back in the lineup on Friday versus a Pittsburgh team against which he went 4-for-12 with three RBIs in last month’s three-game sweep by the Pirates. Cardinals outfielder Tommy Pham is 0-for-13 with nine strikeouts in his last three games overall and 2-for-12 in last month’s series versus the Pirates. St. Louis and Pittsburgh have fared well versus their own division, going a combined 25-12.
Pitchers: Cardinals – John Gant (1-1, 4.67 ERA) | Pirates – Joe Musgrove (2017: 7-8, 4.77)
Gant has taken the place for the injured Adam Wainwright and will be making his third start – the first two of which did not go so well. He was knocked around by Philadelphia on Saturday for five runs on four hits – including a homer – in 4.1 innings of a no-decision, but did strikeout a career-best seven. Gant pitched out of the bullpen on two occasions versus Pittsburgh last season, tossing one scoreless inning of relief on September 10th, before allowing one run on three hits and two walks in three innings two weeks later.
The last of Musgrove’s rehab outings didn’t go well, as he was hit for six runs on 10 hits in five innings with Indianapolis. Musgrove was in the Houston Astros rotation last season before being demoted to the bullpen. This will be his first encounter with St. Louis, but he has seen Dexter Fowler (1-for-2, triple) and Marcell Ozuna (1-for-3) before.
You have two pitchers here who don’t have a lot of confidence coming into this game and a Pittsburgh offense that ranks pretty high in runs scored and average. I can see this one going over, but I’ll take the safer play with the Pirates.
Pick: Pirates -117
BETTING TRENDS:
- Cardinals are 5-1 in their last 6 Friday games.
- Cardinals are 11-4 in their last 15 vs. National League Central.
- Cardinals are 5-2 in their last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cardinals are 11-5 in their last 16 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cardinals are 3-7 in their last 10 road games.
- Cardinals are 16-38 in their last 54 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Cardinals are 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cardinals are 1-5 in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Cardinals are 0-4 in Gant’s last 4 starts.
- Cardinals are 0-4 in Gant’s last 4 starts on grass.
- Pirates are 4-0 in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Pirates are 4-0 in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Pirates are 5-1 in their last 6 during game 1 of a series.
- Pirates are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Pirates are 12-3 in their last 15 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Pirates are 6-2 in their last 8 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Pirates are 13-5 in their last 18 vs. National League Central.
- Pirates are 10-4 in their last 14 home games.
- Pirates are 1-4 in their last 5 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Pirates are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Pirates are 1-5 in their last 6 overall.
- Pirates are 1-5 in their last 6 games on grass.
- Under is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 games following an off day.
- Under is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 7-0 in Cardinals last 7 during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 6-1-2 in Cardinals last 9 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Cardinals last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Under is 7-2-2 in Cardinals last 11 games following a loss.
- Under is 15-5-2 in Cardinals last 22 overall.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Cardinals last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 15-5-2 in Cardinals last 22 on grass.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Cardinals last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Cardinals last 5 vs. National League Central.
- Under is 21-7-2 in Cardinals last 30 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 20-7-3 in Cardinals last 30 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2-1 in Cardinals last 8 road games.
- Under is 8-2-3 in Pirates last 13 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Under is 4-1 in Pirates last 5 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Pirates last 5 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Pirates last 5 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 6-2 in Pirates last 8 Friday games.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Pirates last 5 vs. National League Central.
- Over is 11-4-3 in Pirates last 18 during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings.
- Cardinals are 0-5 in the last 5 meetings in Pittsburgh.
- Cardinals are 0-5 in the last 5 meetings.
