Pirates vs Cardinals Picks and Prediction – 5/6/2025

The Pittsburgh Pirates (12-24) continue their road trip with a matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals (17–19) on Tuesday evening at Busch Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:45 PM ET, with coverage on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh and Bally Sports Midwest. Both teams are looking to gain momentum in the NL Central, with the Pirates aiming to even the series after a 6–3 loss on Monday. Get in on all the actions with our free MLB picks.

The Pirates have shown flashes of potential this season, led by ace Paul Skenes. Skenes, the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year, has continued his dominance in 2025, including a recent performance where he hurled six scoreless innings with a season-high nine strikeouts against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Offensively, Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been a bright spot, boasting a .280 batting average with 7 RBIs. However, the team has struggled with consistency, particularly on the road, where they have a 7–11 record.

The Cardinals have been inconsistent this season but are coming off a 6–3 victory over the Pirates on Monday, marking their third consecutive win. Brendan Donovan has been a key contributor, hitting .336 with 3 home runs and 19 RBIs. The team's pitching staff has a 4.35 ERA, and they've performed better at home, with a 10–9 record at Busch Stadium.

It is tempting to bet on Paul Skenes' side, but the Pirates offense has just been too weak to feel confident in. With the best starting pitcher on the mound to nullify St. Louis, and a dreadful offense on the side of Pittsburgh, we will simply take the Under. Prediction: Pirates win 3-2.