St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (0) walks back to the dugout after striking out against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the second inning at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Pittsburgh Pirates (58-75) and the St. Louis Cardinals (65-68) play the third game of a 4-game series Wednesday. First pitch from Busch Stadium is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. ET (FS1). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's MLB odds around the Pirates vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Pirates lead 6-5

Pittsburgh has won 5 of its last 6 games after beating St. Louis 8-3 Tuesday as a +110 road underdog. The Pirates scored 5 runs in the first inning.

St. Louis has dropped 3 of its last 4 after Tuesday’s loss as a -119 favorite. 3B Nolan Gorman hit a 2-run homer, but the Cardinals were limited to 3 hits.

Pirates at Cardinals projected starters

RHP Carmen Mlodzinski vs. RHP Sonny Gray

Mlodzinski (3-7, 3.89 ERA) makes his 11th start and 27th appearance. He has a 1.30 WHIP, 2.2 BB/9 and 7.8 K/9 through 81 innings.

  • Last appearance: Win, 2 relief IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 5 K in 5-1 home victory vs. Colorado Rockies Saturday
  • Career vs. Cardinals: 2-0, 2.04 ERA (17 2/3 IP, 4 ER), 0.96 WHIP, 13 H, 4 BB, 20 K in 9 games (2 starts)

Gray (12-6, 4.33 ERA) makes his 27th start. He has a 1.20 WHIP, 1.5 BB/9 and 10.0 K/9 through 145 1/3 innings.

  • Last start: Win, 5 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 6 K in 7-4 victory at Tampa Bay Rays Thursday
  • Career vs. Pirates: 7-5, 3.81 ERA (82 2/3 IP, 35 ER), 1.10 WHIP, 9.6 K/9 in 15 games (14 starts)

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Pirates at Cardinals odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:23 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Pirates +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Cardinals -180 (bet $180 to win $100)
  • Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Pirates +1.5 (-160) | Cardinals -1.5 (+135)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)

Pirates at Cardinals picks and predictions

Prediction

Pirates 5, Cardinals 4

Moneyline

BET PIRATES (+145).

While the Pirates have largely underperformed this season, they have hit somewhat of a hot streak over their last 8 games, going 6-2 in that span. Their offense has generated runs while their defense has limited them. If they are able to attack early, getting runs on the board like yesterday, the moneyline has great value.

Run line/Against the spread

PASS.

While the moneyline will give the best return, if you aren't as confident in an outright win, Pirates +1.5 (-160) has decent value as well.

Over/Under

BET OVER 7.5 (+100).

The Pirates have been a reliable Under team this season with their offensive struggles, but they’ve scored at least 4 runs in each of their last 5 games and allowed 3 or more in back-to-back contests. They’ve hit the Over in 4 of their last 7.

St. Louis is 8-0-2 to the Over in its last 10 games. The Cardinals have scored at least 4 runs in 7 of those 10 and allowed 4 or more in 9.

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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals odds, picks and predictions

Reporting by Seth Orlemann, Sportsbook Wire / Sportsbook Wire

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