Cardinals vs Pirates: Odds & Predictions | April 8, 2025

Written by: Colby Marchio
Last Updated: Tue Apr 08, 2025, 13:17 PM
Read Time: 3 minutes

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Cardinals vs Pirates: Two elite starters are set to clash today, with both Paul Skenes and Sonny Gray facing lineups that struggle to generate consistent offense. Skenes brings elite stuff, allowing the least hard contact on the slate, while Gray has been solid despite early season struggles. With both pitchers in favorable matchups, this game sets up well for a low-scoring start.
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Cardinals vs Pirates Odds

Will Paul Skenes give us another masterclass against the Cardinals?
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Runline
Cardinals: +1.5 (-190)
Pirates: -1.5 (+165)
Total
Over: 6.5 (-113)
Under: 6.5 (-107)
Moneyline
Cardinals: +121
Pirates: -133
Cardinals vs Pirates Best Bet
Let’s keep this one fun and sweaty.
Two elite-rated starters against two poorly rated offenses—give me the under 1.5 in the first three innings. Paul Skenes enters today with the second-highest pitcher rating on the slate, while Sonny Gray holds the eighth-highest.
Both starters face lineups with no elite-rated hitters. Skenes gets to face three poorly rated hitters, six above the league strikeout rate, and nine above the league ground ball rate. The young star also allows the least hard contact on the slate. Gray, on the other hand, faces no poorly rated hitters but has to contend with nine above the league strikeout rate and six above the league ground ball rate.
Gray has struggled a bit with a 5.73 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, but now he faces a Pirates team that has been inconsistent. He should be able to hold it down for nine outs. Skenes, on the other hand, has been dominant, allowing only three runs through 12.1 innings pitched.
Given how well these two pitchers match up against these lineups, I think the under 1.5 is worth laying at even money. Let’s get sweaty!
Best Bet: First Three Innings Under 1.5 Runs (+100) at BetOnline)
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Former D1 (club) baseball player, Colby has been betting since his college days at DePaul, where he had to endure the worst collegiate basketball the Big East has ever seen. He is an advanced analytics nerd who spends his free time on Bart Torvik, Ken Pom and Batters-Box.com. He has never seen an underdog he has not liked. Hot. Corn. Bull. It does not matter the dog he loves them all.
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