The Pittsburgh Pirates have the worst offense in MLB in terms of runs per game, but perhaps they will get the matchup they need to get things rolling when they go to St. Louis on Thursday. They’ll bat against Carlos Martinez, who in four June starts has a 15.34 ERA with 16 hits and 6.1 walks per nine innings.
The Pirates counter with their own struggling starter, Chad Kuhl, who is issuing 5.7 walks per nine innings this season. He has given up at least three runs in six of his last seven pitching appearances, with the team giving up an average of 6.7 runs per game.
The Cardinals have hit better at home (.246) than on the road (.210), and Kuhl’s road ERA is 7.45 (vs. 3.45 in Pittsburgh).
Seven of Kuhl’s eight starts this season have gone over the total, and with the Cardinals having scored at least five runs in four of the first five meetings between these teams, runs should come easily at Busch Stadium.
The play: Pirates-Cardinals total, Over 8.5 runs.