Pirates at Cardinals 7/15/19 - MLB Picks & Predictions

On Monday, the Pittsburgh Pirates start a three-game series on the road versus the St. Louis Cardinals. Pittsburgh lost its second consecutive game on Saturday in a 10-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Starling Marte hit a pair of homers and Jung Jo Kang hit one, while Josh Bell had two hits in the Pirates loss.

St. Louis beat Arizona on Saturday 4-2 snapping a losing skid of three straight. Tyler O’Neill belted a homer and drove in four runs, while starter Dakota Hudson pitched six solid innings. St. Louis remained three games behind the first place Chicago Cub in the National League Central with the win. Josh Bell is leading Pittsburgh with a .301 batting average, in hits with 104, home runs with 27 and RBIs with 84. Pittsburgh is averaging .270 at the plate while opponents are averaging .263. On Monday, the Pirates will send right-hander Joe Musgrove to the mound. Musgrove is 6-7 with an ERA of 4.15, 83 Ks and 23 BBs.

Yadier Molina is leading the Cardinals with a .261 batting average. Marcell Ozuna is the Cardinals leader in home runs with 20 and leads in RBIs with 62. Paul DeJong leads in hits with 86. The Cardinals are averaging .243 at the plate, while opposing hitters are averaging .241. On Monday, the Cardinals will send right-hander Miles Mikolas to the mound. Mikolas is 5-9 with an ERA of 4.53, 75 Ks and 17 BBs.