The Pittsburgh Pirates host the St. Louis Cardinals on April 28, 2026. First pitch from PNC Park is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on CARD.
The Pirates are favored by -153 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Cardinals are +127 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 8.5 runs.
Find our MLB picks and Cardinals vs Pirates prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Cardinals vs Pirates Prediction
- Cardinals vs Pirates Pick: Kyle Leahy Under 3.5 Strikeouts
Our Cardinals vs Pirates best bet is Kyle Leahy to stay under his strikeout prop. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Cardinals vs Pirates Odds
| Cardinals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -154 | 8.5 -100o / -122u | +136 |
| Pirates Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +128 | 8.5 -100o / -122u | -162 |
- Cardinals vs Pirates moneyline: Cardinals +136, Pirates -162
- Cardinals vs Pirates over/under: 8.5 (-100o / -122u)
- Cardinals vs Pirates spread: Pirates -1.5 (+135 ), Cardinals +1.5 (-161)
Cardinals vs Pirates Probable Pitchers
| Kyle Leahy (RHP) | Stat | Braxton Ashcraft (RHP) |
|---|---|---|
| 2-3 | W-L | 1-1 |
| -0.2 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 1.0 |
| 5.63/5.70 | ERA / xERA | 2.43/2.07 |
| 5.67/4.77 | FIP / xFIP | 2.42/3.34 |
| 3.6 | K-BB% | 19.8 |
| 53.7 | GB% | 49.3 |
| .316 | BABIP | .274 |
| 90 | Stuff+ | 100 |
| 102 | Location+ | 101 |
Cardinals vs Pirates MLB Betting Preview
Action PRO projects St. Louis Cardinals starter Kyle Leahy for 3.29 strikeouts in his matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight, giving us a solid 14.4% edge against the market when compared to his current prop line of over/under 3.5 strikeouts, which is good enough to tag the Under with an A grade in our system.
Leahy has recorded just 15 strikeouts through his first five starts of the season, totaling 24 innings pitched. His strikeout rate sits at a modest 5.6 K/9 early in the year, with recent outings showing low totals like two Ks over five innings against the Marlins and six against the Astros.
Today, Leahy will face a Pittsburgh Pirates lineup that has posted one of the lower strikeout rates in the majors so far this season, currently sitting at around 24.4% (ranking near the bottom of MLB in K%). The Pirates have emphasized contact and putting the ball in play this season, with strong discipline that limits swing-and-miss opportunities for opposing starters.
teamrankings.com
Leahy, working as a starter after years in the bullpen, isn't generating high whiff volume. His arsenal plays up in shorter bursts, but over multiple innings against a patient, contact-oriented group like Pittsburgh’s, the strikeout upside remains limited — especially with projections seeing him likely around the 5-inning mark without the volume needed to clear 3.5 Ks.
Pick: Kyle Leahy Under 3.5 Strikeouts
