Pittsburgh Pirates @ St. Louis Cardinals - September 17, 2024

Ah, the thrill of another MLB showdown! Tonight, we find ourselves at Busch Stadium where the Pittsburgh Pirates square off against the St. Louis Cardinals. As a seasoned bettor, I’ve learned that any encounter between these two teams is always charged with intensity—and tonight’s matchup is no different.

Let’s talk about the starting pitchers first. Bailey Falter takes the mound for the Pirates with an 8-7 record and a 4.2 ERA. His strikeout rate sits just above 8 per game, which gives him a solid chance to dominate if he finds his rhythm early on. On the flip side, Lance Lynn represents the Cardinals at 6-4 with a slightly better ERA at 4.2 and similar strikeout numbers—around 8 per game as well. Both pitchers are capable of shutting down opposing lineups, but I’ve got to admit, neither has been particularly stellar lately.

Looking at recent performances can be telling; Pittsburgh has struggled on their road swing lately, managing just one win in their last five outings and suffering through some painful losses—including back-to-back shutouts against these very Cardinals that left bettors like me scratching our heads in disbelief. On top of that, they’re only managing around 4 runs per game this season while hitting a dismal .231 as a team.

Meanwhile, St. Louis comes into this battle riding high after their recent success against the Pirates—having won decisively in their last clash by a score of 4-0 and covering as +110 underdogs on the moneyline. Their offense averages about 4 runs per game and boasts an impressive batting average of .240 along with decent on-base percentages—which suggests they could capitalize if they get runners on base.

Now here’s where it gets interesting: Despite those recent successes for St. Louis and their home-field advantage (they’re 4-2 SU in their last six games at Busch), I’m feeling bold tonight—I believe that Pittsburgh can pull off an upset here. The Pirates may be struggling overall but every dog has its day; sometimes it’s all about who shows up ready to play when it counts most!

As for scoring? The total opened at 7.5 runs but I’m betting we see more fireworks than expected tonight; both teams have shown tendencies toward overs recently—Pittsburgh’s offensive output has been just enough to keep them competitive even when they lose.

In conclusion? My instincts tell me to lean towards a Pirates victory despite what oddsmakers suggest—and I’m taking the over on that total run count as well! Call it superstition or experience—but my lucky socks are clean and my betting ritual is set! Let’s hope tonight’s game swings our way!