St. Louis Cardinals @ Pittsburgh Pirates - July 1, 2025

Ah, the sweet scent of rivalry hangs thick in the air as the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates gear up for another showdown at PNC Park on Tuesday night. I’ve been around long enough to know that division matchups are always filled with drama, and this one promises to be no different.

Now, let’s dive into the pitching duel first. The Cardinals will send their right-hander to the mound with a win-loss record of 5-4 and an ERA hovering around 4.0. He’s had his share of ups and downs this season but comes into this game needing a strong performance after a rough outing last time against these same Pirates. On the flip side, we’ve got Skenes for Pittsburgh—his stats paint a picture of a pitcher who has struggled to find his footing with a 4-7 record and an ERA above 3.9. But don’t let those numbers fool you; he’s capable of keeping hitters off balance if he finds his rhythm early.

The last time these two teams faced off, it was a stunning display from Pittsburgh, as they shut out St. Louis in a convincing 7-0 victory. Moneyline bettors who took the Pirates that day were rewarded handsomely, while totals bettors rejoiced as the game fell well under what was set at seven runs.

Looking at team performances, St. Louis has been more consistent offensively, averaging nearly 4.7 runs per game compared to Pittsburgh’s modest 3.4 runs per game this season. The Cardinals also boast a higher batting average (.248) compared to the Pirates’ .227—these factors can’t be overlooked when assessing each team’s potential output tonight.

However, there’s something about baseball that makes you believe anything can happen on any given day—it’s like fate plays its hand in ways we can’t predict. The Pirates are riding high on momentum after winning four straight games; they’ll look to build off that success at home where they often play tougher than expected.

Now, here’s where my betting ritual kicks in: I always make sure to wear my lucky cap when placing bets on games like these! I’ve seen too many “sure thing” bets go south because I didn’t follow through with my pre-game rituals—trust me on this one!

Here’s my prediction: I’m leaning towards taking the Cardinals for the win tonight despite their recent loss against Pittsburgh; they’re due for revenge after being blanked last time out. Furthermore, I believe we’ll see some fireworks offensively in this matchup—the over is calling my name loud and clear based on both teams’ recent trends.

So there you have it! Expect lots of action at PNC Park tonight—Cardinals take it home, and don’t forget to watch those bats come alive!