You currently can find this bet for -135 odds on DraftKings. We like it to -160.
The Pirates are sending Paul Skenes to the mound in this one and he could not line up better. Skenes has adjusted to the MLB as good as any rookie has and looks to keep that rolling tonight. In 5 starts this season, Skenes has struck out 7 or more in 4 of them including a breakout 11 K performance against the Cubs. In his most recent outing, he did more than hold his own against one of the best lineups in baseball, pitching 5 innings, allowing 3 ER, and striking out 8, which was good enough to pick up the win against the Dodgers. Skenes’ K rates have been absurd thus far, getting LHH 39.6% of the time and RHH 31.5% of the time. LHH have a measly .102 xISO and .241 wxOBA vs Skenes. He should have his way with the St. Louis order.
On the other side, Miles Mikolas will be on the mound for St. Louis. Lefties have a .201 xISO/.343 xwOBA off of him and righties have obliterated his fastball with a .374/.419 line against it. Bats like McCutchen (.369/.444), Reynolds (.336/.438), Joe (.371 xwOBA), Cruz (.413/.486), Gonzales (.450/.420), and Grandal (.277 xISO) all line up superbly well to annihilate Mikolas in this spot. Lock in the Pirates!