Pittsburgh Pirates @ St. Louis Cardinals - August 27, 2025

The St. Louis Cardinals will beat the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pittsburgh Pirates will cover the spread, and the total will go over.

Looking at the offensive capabilities, the Cardinals are clearly positioned to outscore the Pirates with an average of 4.4 runs per game compared to Pittsburgh’s 3.6 runs. This significant gap is indicative of the Cardinals’ superior hitting ability, with a collective batting average of .243 and an output of over 8 hits per game. In contrast, the Pirates are struggling at the plate, with a batting average of just .229 and a little under 8 hits per game. This disparity suggests that the Cardinals’ lineup should have more opportunities to put runs on the board, particularly with their ability to convert hits into scoring chances.

On the pitching side, the Cardinals have an ERA of 4.4, which is relatively moderate but still better than the Pirates’ 4.0 ERA. This indicates that while both teams have shown some vulnerabilities on the mound, the Pirates may find themselves under pressure more often than not. Given these factors, the Cardinals should take advantage of their offensive strength and capitalize on a manageable pitching matchup. Therefore, not only do I expect the Cardinals to win, but with the ample scoring potential, the total runs will likely exceed projected expectations, ultimately leading to an over on the total.