Cardinals vs. Pirates odds, line, prediction, start time: 2025 MLB picks, July 2 bets from proven model

The St. Louis Cardinals (47-40) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (37-50) square off in the last contest of a three-game series on Wednesday. Pittsburgh is going for the sweep after taking Games 1 and 2. The Pirates defeated the Cardinals 1-0 on Tuesday. Sonny Gray (8-2, 3.36 ERA) starts for St. Louis. Mitch Keller (2-10, 3.90 ERA) takes the hill for the Pirates. 

First pitch from PNC Park is set for 12:35 p.m. ET. Pittsburgh is a -124 favorite on the money line (risk $124 to win $100) in the latest Cardinals vs. Pirates odds from FanDuel Sportsbook, while the over/under for total runs scored is 8. Before making any Cardinals vs. Pirates picks, be sure to see the MLB predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It enters Week 15 of the 2025 MLB season on a profitable 39-30 run on top-rated MLB sides picks. It has excelled making home run prop picks this season, returning more than 24 units of profit. Anybody following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen strong returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Cardinals vs. Pirates and just locked in its picks and MLB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several MLB odds and betting lines for Cardinals vs. Pirates, which you can get in on with a DraftKings promo code or a FanDuel promo code.

Why the Cardinals can win

Second baseman Brendan Donovan, who is leading off on Wednesday, has great plate coverage, hitting .294 with six home runs and 31 RBI. He’s tallied a hit in three of his last five games. On June 28 against the Guardians, Donovan went 1-of-2 with a two-run homer. 

Left fielder Lars Nootbaar has been a solid run producer for St. Louis, logging 11 home runs, 35 RBI and 68 hits this campaign. The 27-year-old has logged a hit in seven of his last nine games. In the June 24 win over the Cubs, Nootbaar was 1-of-3 with a two-run homer. See which team to back at SportsLine.

Why the Pirates can win

Right fielder Andrew McCutchen is a veteran playmaker, leading the team in batting average (.269) and OBP (.350) with eight dingers and 31 RBI. He’s on a six-game hitting streak. In Monday’s win over St. Louis, McCutchen was 1-of-3 with a double and one run scored. 

Right fielder Bryan Reynolds provides this team with another offensive threat, as he has 10 home runs and 45 RBI this season. The 30-year-old has racked up at least two hits in six of his last nine games. In Monday’s game against St. Louis, Reynolds went 2-of-4 with two singles and one run scored. Pittsburgh has also won five straight games. See which team to back at SportsLine. 

How to make Cardinals vs. Pirates picks

SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 9.3 combined runs, and it says one side of the money line has all the value. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s MLB picks. 

So who wins Cardinals vs. Pirates, and which side of the money line has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its MLB picks, and find out.