Pirates vs Cardinals (April 13): Prediction & Best Run Line Bet for NL Central Rivalry Showdown
Written by: Eddie Griffin
Last Update: Thu Apr 13, 2023, 2:19 pm ET
Read Time: 3 minutes
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Seeking a 3-0 start to his season, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jordan Montgomery will take the hill tonight for the series opener against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.
The matchup between the Pirates (7-5) and Cardinals (5-7) is scheduled for a 7:45 pm ET start time, and Vince Velasquez will get the ball for the visitors opposite Montgomery.
Will St. Louis pick up three straight wins for the first time this season? Read on for our Pirates vs Cardinals prediction, as well as our best bets for this NL Central rivalry matchup.
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Pittsburgh Pirates vs St. Louis Cardinals Odds
Odds are via BetOnline as of Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 2:15 pm ET.
Moneyline
- Pittsburgh Pirates +225
- St. Louis Cardinals -275
Over/Under
- Over 8.5 (-120)
- Under 8.5 (-102)
Run Line
- Pittsburgh Pirates +1.5 (+114)
- St. Louis Cardinals -1.5 (-134)
Pitching Matchup for Pirates vs Cardinals
- Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Vince Velasquez (0-2, 9.82 ERA)
- St. Louis Cardinals: LHP Jordan Montgomery (2-0, 2.25 ERA)
Will the Cardinals Bash Struggling Velasquez to Back Up Montgomery?
After spending much of his MLB career pitching for one of Pennsylvania's two MLB teams, Velasquez is now with the other.
Last year with the Chicago White Sox, Velasquez started the season by giving up three or more runs four times in seven starts, then made only two more starts the rest of the season.
This season isn't off to a particularly promising start for the veteran righty, who pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies from 2016-21.
Across starts against the Reds and White Sox, Velasquez has allowed eight runs, 11 hits, and five walks in just 7.1 innings.
This will be his seventh career start and eighth career appearance against the Cardinals, and the numbers so far don't tell a pretty tale. To date, he is 1-3 with a 5.67 ERA against St. Louis, with 21 runs (all earned), 32 hits (11 homers), and 17 walks allowed in 33.1 innings. Of those totals, 12 runs, 13 hits, seven homers, and seven walks have come in his last three starts (12.1 IP) at Busch Stadium.
Alone, all of that would add up to a potentially ominous evening for the Pirates. But in addition to trotting out a struggling pitcher who has struggled in the venue he is pitching at tonight, Pittsburgh is facing a tough matchup on the mound.
Montgomery is coming off of a fantastic road start against the Milwaukee Brewers, in which he tossed seven shutout innings, allowed only three hits and two walks, and struck out nine in a 6-0 shutout win last Saturday. It marked the fifth time in 13 starts with the Cardinals that Montgomery went without allowing a run.
Pirates vs Cardinals Prediction and Best Bets
Prediction for Pirates vs Cardinals: Cardinals to win
Best Bet for Pirates vs Cardinals: Cardinals -1.5 (Best Value: Bovada Sportsbook & BetUS) & Cardinals team total over 5 runs (Best Value: Bovada Sportsbook)
In addition to doing his part to help himself, Montgomery has gotten some good help from the bats in his first two outings this season, with the Cardinals picking up a 9-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in his other start.
Look for that to continue against Velasquez and for the home team to come out victorious by multiple runs tonight.
Where to Bet on Pirates vs Cardinals
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