Pittsburgh Pirates vs St. Louis Cardinals Prediction & Picks - MLB

Prediction published on 7/2/25, 8:53 AM  by Erik Gibbs | Modified on 7/2/25 at 2:55 PM in MLB Picks

The St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates are set to wrap up their three-game series today, with Pittsburgh looking to complete a surprising sweep. The Pirates have dominated the first two games with back-to-back shutouts, blanking the Cardinals 7-0 in the opener and following that with a 1-0 nail-biter in game two.

Despite being at the bottom of the National League Central standings, the Pirates have now won five straight games, including a sweep of the New York Mets prior to this series. Their recent hot streak offers a glimmer of hope for a team that will need a major post-All-Star Break surge to get into Wild Card contention.

The Pirates, now 37-50, haven’t put up big offensive numbers in this series, but their pitching has been outstanding. In game two, they managed just a single run, which came in the eighth inning, but it was enough. The Pirates’ bullpen held firm under pressure, stranding multiple Cardinals runners in scoring position, including a dramatic play at the plate in the ninth inning that sealed the win. That kind of clutch defense has been a key part of Pittsburgh’s recent success.

St. Louis, on the other hand, entered this series with a 47-40 record and still holds a competitive position in the division. However, their offense has gone completely silent in the first two games, leaving runners stranded and failing to deliver in high-leverage situations. It’s an unusual slump for a lineup that typically generates steady production. Game three offers them a chance to right the ship and avoid an embarrassing sweep against a team that has struggled for much of the season.