Pittsburgh Pirates vs St. Louis Cardinals Betting Pick & Prediction for 5/21

MLB game preview

The Pittsburgh Pirates will visit the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The game is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 1:15 PM. Both teams are part of the NL Central Division.

The Pirates have a record of 25-24 and are ranked fifth in their division. They recently broke a losing streak with a win. The Cardinals hold a 28-20 record and are ranked third. They aim to recover after a loss in their previous game. The weather forecast predicts cool temperatures and overcast clouds.

Pittsburgh Pirates Team Preview

The Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to build on their recent victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. In their last game, they won 7-0, with Carmen Mlodzinski throwing five scoreless innings. The Pirates’ bats were lively, collecting 15 hits, including a home run from Spencer Horwitz.

The Pirates have shown mixed results in recent games. They have a strong team batting average of .252, ranking third in the league. However, their slugging percentage is 11th, showing they may need more power hits to improve their standing.

Braxton Ashcraft will take the mound for the Pirates in their next game. He holds a 2-2 record with a 3.09 ERA this season. His performance will be key in supporting the Pirates’ effort to secure another win against the Cardinals.

Pirates vs Cardinals Game Day Info

  • Sport: MLB
  • Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals
  • Venue: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO
  • Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Pirates Moneyline -127, Cardinals Moneyline +106

St. Louis Cardinals Team Preview

The St. Louis Cardinals recently had a tough game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, losing 7-0. Michael McGreevy pitched five innings but allowed 10 hits and 3 earned runs. The Cardinals managed only five hits with no home runs.

In a previous game against the Pirates, the Cardinals won 9-6. They hit four home runs, showing power at the plate. Matthew Liberatore pitched nearly five innings with nine strikeouts, allowing four earned runs.

During a series with the Kansas City Royals, the Cardinals had a close win with a score of 5-4. Dustin May pitched six innings, giving up three earned runs. Jordan Walker contributed with a home run and two RBIs, leading the offense.

BTB Betting Pick

The Pirates are favored on the moneyline at -127, while the Cardinals are listed at +106. The Pirates have a stronger pitching staff with an ERA of 3.89, ranking 10th, compared to the Cardinals’ ERA of 4.21, ranking 18th. Based on these stats, I recommend picking the Pirates to win with a projected score of 5-3.

The total for the game is set at 7.5 runs, with the over at -121 and the under at +100. Both teams have similar slugging percentages at .389, but the Pirates have a better batting average at .252. Given these factors, I recommend taking the over, expecting a total score of 8 runs.