Pirates vs Cardinals Prediction 6/11

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie right-hander Paul Skenes is set to face the St. Louis Cardinals for the first time Tuesday night as the National League Central rivals open a three-game series in St. Louis. For those looking to place a bet, here’s everything you need to know. Pirates vs Cardinals Prediction 6/11

Rookie Sensation Paul Skenes

Paul Skenes (3-0, 3.00 ERA), the Pirates’ towering 6-foot-6 rookie phenom, is ready to showcase his triple-digit fastball and unique “splinker” – a lethal combo of a split-finger fastball and a sinker. Bettors should note that Skenes has been a strikeout machine, with 38 strikeouts in 27 innings. His opponent, veteran right-hander Miles Mikolas (4-6, 5.32 ERA), has struggled this season, making Skenes a tempting choice for prop bets on strikeouts and innings pitched.

In his last outing, Skenes faced the formidable Los Angeles Dodgers and struck out eight batters in five innings, despite giving up two homers and three runs. The Pirates offense has been a robust ally, averaging nine runs over his five starts. This high run support boosts the likelihood of a Pirates win when Skenes is on the mound, making Pittsburgh a solid moneyline pick.

Pirates’ Recent Performance

The Pirates have scored 19 runs in their last four games but have only two wins to show for it. They suffered an 11-5 defeat in 10 innings against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.

Nick Gonzalez has been on fire, with a pair of singles on Sunday, bringing his average to .310 with four homers and 23 RBIs since being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on May 10. Gonzalez’s hot streak makes him a strong candidate for player prop bets on hits and RBIs.

Veteran Mikolas and the Cardinals

Miles Mikolas, at 35 years old, is no stranger to the Pirates. He is 5-6 with a 3.08 ERA in 21 career appearances (18 starts) against Pittsburgh. In his last start, Mikolas overcame two homers, allowing only those runs on five hits over six innings, securing a 4-2 win over the Houston Astros. Bettors should be cautious with Mikolas, given his up-and-down season and high ERA.

Cardinals’ Recent Performance

Alec Burleson blasted a solo homer on Sunday as the Cardinals clinched a 5-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies, winning the three-game series. Burleson’s homer was his fourth in the last eight games, making him a valuable pick for home run prop bets. Rookie Masyn Wynn also contributed with two hits and two RBIs, boosting his totals to 10 hits and four RBIs over his last seven games. Wynn’s recent form makes him another player to watch for prop bets.