Pittsburgh (17-16) at St Louis (21-16)
When: Thursday, May 9th, 2019
Where: Busch Stadium,
St Louis, Missouri
Time: 7:45 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: St Louis -146/8.5
The St. Louis Cardinals owned the best record in Baseball to begin the month but the last week has been a challenge. The Cardinals, who have lost six of their last seven, will try and turn things around versus the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday when the teams begin a four-game weekend series at Busch Stadium. St. Louis began May with a win at Washington, but lost their next four before a 6-0 win over visiting Philadelphia on Monday. The Phillies then outscored the Cardinals 16-1 in taking the next two as St. Louis managed just three hits in Wednesday’s 5-0 setback. The Pirates were on a roll, winning five of six, before the bullpen collapsed in the late innings in Wednesday’s 9-6 loss to the Texas Rangers. Pittsburgh will now begin an 11-game road trip Thursday and are 3.5 games behind the first place Chicago Cubs in the National League Central. Josh Bell became the fourth player in PNC Park history to reach the Allegheny River on the fly in yesterday’s loss and the first baseman is 12-for-33 with nine RBI during his current eight-game hitting streak. On the other side, Cardinals 1B Paul Goldschmidt is just 3-for-20 with 10 strikeouts over his last seven games. St. Louis has won 13 of the last 17 meetings with Pittsburgh.
Pitchers: Pirates – Joe Musgrove (1-3, 2.63 ERA) | Cardinals – Michael Wacha (2-0, 5.17)
The Cardinals have lost Joe Musgrove’s last three starts including his worst outing to date last Friday versus Oakland. The A’s pounded Musgrove for seven runs (five earned) and six hits in just 2.2 innings. That ended a string of five consecutive quality starts after he allowed a combined 10 runs in that span. Musgrove was 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA in three starts against St. Louis in 2018.
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Despite no losses in six starts, Michael Wacha has struggled this season with control and surrendering the long ball. Wacha escaped with another no-decision last time out thanks to some generous run support by his offense. He allowed five runs (four earned) over five innings versus the Chicago Cubs on Saturday and has served up six home runs and walked 21 batters in 31.1 innings. Wacha is 6-3 with a 3.53 ERA in 16 appearances (15 starts) against the Pirates.
I’m giving the edge to Pittsburgh in this one. Musgrove has been more consistent that Wacha this year and the Cardinals are really slumping right now. The Pirates haven’t had much success against the Cardinals recently, but I think they take the opener here.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Thursday. He is 56-38 +1194 units on the season, has won 6 in a row and 11 of his last 14!
Pick: Pirates +130
Bobby’s MLB Free Picks on 11-3 Run, Including 6 in a Row!
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BETTING TRENDS:
Pirates are 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Pirates are 5-1 in their last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Pirates are 5-2 in their last 7 vs. National League Central.
Pirates are 5-2 in their last 7 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Pirates are 5-2 in their last 7 overall.
Pirates are 5-2 in their last 7 games on grass.
Pirates are 2-5 in their last 7 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Pirates are 2-7 in their last 9 games following a loss.
Pirates are 1-6 in their last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
Pirates are 1-6 in their last 7 Thursday games.
Pirates are 0-4 in their last 4 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Pirates are 1-4 in Musgrove’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Pirates are 1-4 in Musgrove’s last 5 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Pirates are 1-4 in Musgrove’s last 5 starts.
Pirates are 1-4 in Musgrove’s last 5 starts on grass.
Pirates are 1-5 in Musgrove’s last 6 starts with 5 days of rest.
Pirates are 1-5 in Musgrove’s last 6 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Pirates are 1-7 in Musgrove’s last 8 road starts.
Pirates are 0-4 in Musgrove’s last 4 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Pirates are 0-4 in Musgrove’s last 4 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Cardinals are 7-1 in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Cardinals are 11-3 in their last 14 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Cardinals are 11-3 in their last 14 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Cardinals are 13-4 in their last 17 home games.
Cardinals are 5-2 in their last 7 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Cardinals are 7-3 in their last 10 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Cardinals are 1-4 in their last 5 games following a loss.
Cardinals are 2-9 in their last 11 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cardinals are 1-5 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
Cardinals are 1-5 in their last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Cardinals are 1-6 in their last 7 overall.
Cardinals are 1-6 in their last 7 games on grass.
Cardinals are 6-1 in Wacha’s last 7 starts during game 1 of a series.
Cardinals are 4-1 in Wacha’s last 5 Thursday starts.
Cardinals are 6-2 in Wacha’s last 8 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Cardinals are 6-2 in Wacha’s last 8 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Cardinals are 8-3 in Wacha’s last 11 home starts.
Cardinals are 7-3 in Wacha’s last 10 starts vs. National League Central.
Cardinals are 2-5 in Wacha’s last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Cardinals are 1-4 in Wacha’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Cardinals are 0-4 in Wacha’s last 4 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 4-0 in Pirates last 4 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-0 in Pirates last 6 overall.
Over is 6-0 in Pirates last 6 on grass.
Under is 7-0 in Pirates last 7 Thursday games.
Over is 5-0 in Pirates last 5 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-0 in Pirates last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 5-1 in Pirates last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Over is 4-1 in Pirates last 5 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 20-8 in Pirates last 28 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 20-8 in Pirates last 28 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-0 in Musgrove’s last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
Over is 5-1 in Musgrove’s last 6 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 6-2 in Musgrove’s last 8 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 8-3 in Musgrove’s last 11 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-0-1 in Cardinals last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 4-1 in Cardinals last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Under is 4-1 in Cardinals last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 7-2-2 in Cardinals last 11 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 7-2-1 in Cardinals last 10 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 13-4-1 in Cardinals last 18 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 3-1-1 in Cardinals last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 3-1-1 in Cardinals last 5 home games.
Under is 3-1-1 in Cardinals last 5 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 16-6 in Cardinals last 22 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1-1 in Wacha’s last 6 starts on grass.
Over is 4-1 in Wacha’s last 5 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 4-1-1 in Wacha’s last 6 starts overall.
Over is 3-1-1 in Wacha’s last 5 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 3-1-1 in Wacha’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Over is 3-1-1 in Wacha’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 3-1-1 in Wacha’s last 5 starts vs. National League Central.
Under is 12-5 in Wacha’s last 17 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 24-11 in Wacha’s last 35 starts during game 1 of a series.
Cardinals are 4-0 in Wacha’s last 4 home starts vs. Pirates.
Under is 4-0 in Wacha’s last 4 home starts vs. Pirates.
Cardinals are 6-1 in Wacha’s last 7 starts vs. Pirates.
Under is 5-1 in Wacha’s last 6 starts vs. Pirates.
Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Under is 19-7 in the last 26 meetings in St. Louis.
Pirates are 16-39 in the last 55 meetings in St. Louis.
Pirates are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings.
