The Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals will lock horns in a Tuesday twin-bill at Busch Stadium. It will be JT Brubaker against Matthew Liberatore on the mound when the teams begin their first of two nine-inning affairs this afternoon.
Who will take the Tuesday opener between these two squads? Find out in our free MLB betting picks and predictions for Pirates vs. Cardinals on Tuesday, June 14.
Pirates vs Cardinals odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
The Cardinals opened as consensus favorites of -160, and while they’ve been bet down to as low as -175 at some sites, others have held the line, or adjusted it by just a few cents. The total was unveiled at 9.5 and has held firm.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until first pitch and be sure to check out the full MLB odds before placing your bets.
Pirates vs Cardinals predictions
Picks made on 6/14/2022 at 9:05 a.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
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Pirates vs Cardinals game info
• Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
• Date: Tuesday, June 14, 2022
• First pitch: 1:15 p.m. ET
• TV: AT&T Sports Network, Bally Sports Midwest
Pirates vs Cardinals betting preview
Starting pitchers
JT Brubaker (0-6, 4.60 ERA): JT Brubaker appeared to be turning a corner after posting a 2.63 ERA in May (five starts), but has authored a 6.55 ERA over his first two outings in June. Brubaker is a discouraging 0-5 with a 6.75 ERA all-time against the Cardinals (26 2-3 innings).
Matthew Liberatore (1-1, 5.54 ERA): Matthew Liberatore is off to a rocky start in his rookie year based on his 1.77 WHIP through three efforts. The Pirates knocked around the Arizona-born left-hander on May 21 to the tune of four runs on seven hits and two walks over 4 2-3 innings.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Pirates: Heath Hembree RP (Out), Yoshitomo Tsutsugo 1B (Out), Ben Gamel LF (Out), Dillon Peters RP (Out), Kevin Newman SS (Out), Josh VanMeter 2B (Out).
Cardinals: Corey Dickerson LF (Out), Steven Matz SP (Out), Jordan Hicks SP (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Pirates are 13-38 in their last 51 road games against left-handed starters. Find more MLB betting trends for Pirates vs. Cardinals
Pirates vs Cardinals picks and predictions
Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.
Moneyline analysis
The Cardinals should add to what’s been a miserable season for JT Brubaker on Tuesday afternoon. Brubaker was torched for four runs over just three innings by St. Louis in his first of 12 straight winless starts to begin 2022.
Paul Goldschmidt had cooled off to begin June, batting .211 going into Monday’s tilt with the Pirates after tearing the cover off the ball in May (.404). But Pittsburgh’s pitchers seemingly served as a tonic, as he had three hits in that game, including a home run.
Tommy Edman, Nolan Arenado, and Brendan Donovan have combined to bat .313 (45-for-144) this month. The Redbirds rank sixth in runs per game this season at 4.76, so Brubaker and the Pirates’ 22nd-rated bullpen by ERA (4.26) should offer little resistance.
Pittsburgh’s lineup — 28th in the majors at 3.46 runs per game — was able to chase Matthew Liberatore early in his MLB debut, but bettors shouldn’t expect an encore. Aside from Bryan Reynolds — who is batting .395 in June with three homers and seven RBI — the Pirates’ bats are bereft of punch. Ke’Bryan Hayes is off to a poor start in June with a .214 batting average, and Diego Castillo has been abysmal as the everyday shortstop, going 3-for-31 (.097).
Liberatore was burned by Reynolds in his first big-league start, but he should be able to avoid another confrontation with that rival in a key spot.
Portsiders have been kryptonite for the Pirates, as they are 32-73 in their last 105 games against left-handed starters. The Bucs are also 27-66 in their last 93 games against NL Central opponents, and 24-69 in their last 93 road games against teams with winning records.
This sample size definitely stretches over a couple seasons, but it goes to show you how long this team has struggled. To shrink the sample size a little further, in 46 games vs. lefties this year, the pirates are batting just .230 in 647 plate appearances according Statmuse: Big yikes.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals are 6-1 in their last seven home games, and 13-6 in their last 19 opening games of a double-header.
Prediction: Cardinals moneyline (-156 at WynnBET)
Over/Under analysis
Pittsburgh’s inept batsmen should help Under bettors cash in this matchup.
The Pirates have scored three runs or fewer in seven of their last eight contests. Five of their regular starters — including Hayes — are batting .220 or worse this month. The Bucs’ collective eye at the plate has been awful, as they’re 21st in walks drawn this year while registering the third-most strikeouts in the majors.
Pittsburgh’s also failed to hit for power, amassing only 53 four-baggers — 22nd in baseball.
The Pirates should expect a healthy dose of reliever Ryan Helsley, who’s allowed only one earned run over 24 1-3 innings of work this year. He’s accompanied by Genesis Cabrera (nine holds), and Giovanny Gallegos (eight saves).
Not to be outdone is Pittsburgh’s David Bednar, who has 10 saves on the season and has pitched only twice in June. Manager Derek Shelton is almost sure to give Bednar some work against the Cards if the game is close and low-scoring.
And for a trend? The Under is 7-1-2 in the Pirates’ last 10 road games against left-handed starters, shocking.
Prediction: Under 9.5 (+100 at bet365)
Best bet
The key to winning the first half of Tuesday’s double-header for the Cardinals will be getting to Brubaker early.
St. Louis is batting an impressive .310 as a team against the Ohio native. Arenado has led the charge, going 5-for-13 (.385) with a tater and five RBI. Dylan Carlson — who recently rejoined the Redbirds’ order — is 5-for-12 off Brubaker with a pair of doubles.
The price on the Cards is somewhat appealing due to the presence of the unproven Liberatore on the mound. But even if he struggles, St. Louis’ better overall roster should rise to the occasion.
Pick: Cardinals moneyline (-156 at WynnBET)
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