Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals Free Pick and Betting Lines. The 86-47 St. Louis Cardinals play host to the 79-53 Pittsburgh Pirates tonight in MLB action on the grass of Busch Stadium, Sept 4, 2015. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:15PM ET.
Betting Odds
Moneyline: Pirates at +139 /Cardinals -149
O/U Total: 7.5
Pitching Matchup
J.A. Happ (L) W/L 3-1 WHIP 1.24 ERA 1.98 (NL stats only)
Carlos Martinez (R) W/L 13-6 WHIP 1.27 ERA 2.91
Pittsburgh lost 5-3 at Milwaukee on Thursday completing a 3-game sweep. They are 0-3 on their road trip, have lost 4 games in a row and are 4-5 in their last 9 games. St. Louis had the day off yesterday. They are 2-1 on their homestand and 9-2 in their past 11 games. The Cardinals are 48-20 at home in 2015.
The Pirates have a 6-3 advantage in the last 9 games played between these two NL Central rivals in 2015.
Happ was a 4-3 winner over Colorado in his last start, going 5.2 innings and allowing 1 ER. He has 12 Q starts on the year including his time with Seattle.
Martinez was a 5-3 winner at Arizona in his last outing. He lasted 6 innings, surrendered all 3 runs and struck out 6 for his 18th Q start of the season. The Cards are 19-5 when he starts (he lost 1 game in relief).
Pirates’ OF Gregory Polanco is 8-11 (.727) vs. Martinez with an RBI and a stolen base while SS Jung Ho Kang is 3-9 (.333) with an RBI. IF Jordy Mercer is 4-12 (.333) against the young right-hander with an RBI while 2B Neil Walker is 4-16 (.250) with 2 HRs and 4 RBIs.
Only 5 Cardinals hitters have faced Happ before. 1B-OF Brandon Moss is 6-8 (.750) with an RBI while SS Jhonny Peralta is 1-2 (.500). C Yadier Molina is 6-15 (.400) against the left-hander with a HR and 3 RBIs while C Tony Cruz is 1-3 (.333). 1B Mark Reynolds has been owned by Happ in the past and is 0-16 against him.
Pittsburgh at St. Louis Betting Trends
The Pirates are 30-12 in their last 42 Friday night games.
The game total has gone over in 5-2-1 in Pittsburgh’s last 8 games as an underdog.
The game total has gone over in 6-1-3 in St. Louis last 10 games as a favorite.
St. Louis are 9-2 in their last 11 games overall.
Injury Report
PITTSBURGH
[CF] 09/04/2015 – Andrew McCutchen probable Friday vs. St. Louis Cardinals ( Achilles )
[P] 09/02/2015 – Casey Sadler 60-day DL (9/1) ( Forearm )
[1B] 08/24/2015 – Travis Ishikawa 15-day DL (8/20) ( Back )
[P] 08/08/2015 – Deolis Guerra 60-day DL (8/7) ( Knee )
[P] 08/01/2015 – A.J. Burnett 15-day DL (7/31) ( Elbow )
[CF] 07/19/2015 – Gorkys Hernandez 15-day DL (7/13) ( Shoulder )
[RF] 06/24/2015 – Corey Hart 60-day DL (6/22) ( Shoulder )
[LF] 05/07/2015 – Andrew Lambo 60-day DL (5/4) ( Plantar Fasciitis )
[P] 04/06/2015 – Brandon Cumpton 60-day DL (3/27) ( Elbow )
ST LOUIS
[P] 09/03/2015 – Carlos Martinez is upgraded to expected to start Friday vs. Pittsburgh Pirates ( Back )
[P] 09/03/2015 – Lance Lynn is downgraded to expected to miss start Friday vs. Pittsburgh Pirates ( Ankle )
[1B] 09/02/2015 – Mark Reynolds “?” Friday vs. Pittsburgh Pirates ( Wrist )
[LF] 08/18/2015 – Randal Grichuk 15-day DL (8/16) ( Elbow )
[LF] 07/30/2015 – Matt Holliday 15-day DL (7/29) ( Quad )
[CF] 07/03/2015 – Jon Jay 15-day DL (7/1) ( Wrist )
[P] 07/01/2015 – Matt Belisle 60-day DL (6/26) ( Elbow )
[1B] 05/27/2015 – Matt Adams 60-day DL (05/26) ( Quad )
[P] 05/03/2015 – Jordan Walden 60-day DL (4/30) ( Bicep )
[P] 04/28/2015 – Adam Wainwright 60-day DL (4/25); out for season ( Achilles )
Consensus Pick Moneyline
Pittsburgh: 23%
St. Louis: 77%
Free MLB Pick
Happ has been good since the trade, but historically he hasn’t been against the Cardinals’ active roster with the St. Louis batters hitting .318 against him in 44 at bats. Martinez is still pitching adequately but has tailed off allowing three or more runs in his five of his last six. We expect both offenses to be able to produce runs and with that easily surpassing the 7.5 total line.
Take the OVER 7.5 @ BETONLINE.AG