Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals: Game Preview, Odds, Pitching Matchup & Key Players – August 28, 2025

Thursday, August 28th, 2025

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals: Game Preview

The Pittsburgh Pirates (59-75, fifth in the NL Central) will face off against the St. Louis Cardinals (65-69, fourth in the NL Central) at Busch Stadium. The Pirates lead the current series 2-1 and also hold a 7-5 edge in the season series as these two NL Central rivals square off for the 13th time in 2025.

Pitching Matchup

On the mound for the Pirates will be Braxton Ashcraft, who has posted a strong 4-2 record with a 2.70 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts so far this season. The Cardinals will counter with veteran Miles Mikolas, who enters with a 6-10 record, a 5.17 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 81 strikeouts. Oddsmakers have made the Cardinals slight favorites at -125, with the Pirates listed at +105 and an over/under set at 8.5 runs.

Team Performance and Series Overview

The Cardinals have put together a 36-32 record at home this season and stand at 65-69 overall. A key stat for St. Louis: they are 34-16 in games where they have not allowed a home run. The Pirates, meanwhile, have struggled on the road with a 20-45 mark and sit at 59-75 overall. Allowing the long ball has been an issue, as they are just 19-52 in games when they give up at least one home run.

This matchup marks the 13th meeting between these clubs this season, with Pittsburgh holding a 7-5 lead in the series.

Top Performers to Watch

For St. Louis, Alec Burleson has been a key contributor with 21 doubles, a triple, and 16 home runs. Lars Nootbaar is swinging a hot bat as well, going 11-for-39 with two doubles over his last 10 games.

On the Pittsburgh side, Bryan Reynolds has racked up 34 doubles, three triples, and 14 home runs this season. Jared Triolo has also impressed recently, going 12-for-31 with two doubles, a triple, two home runs, and 5 RBI in his last 10 games.

Recent Form

The Cardinals have gone 4-6 in their last 10 games, hitting .223 with a 5.07 team ERA and have been outscored by 11 runs. The Pirates are trending upward, going 7-3 over their last 10 and outscoring opponents by 21 runs, with a team batting average of .262 and a remarkable 2.55 ERA during that stretch.

Current Injuries

Cardinals:

• John King: 15-Day IL (back)
• Brendan Donovan: 10-Day IL (groin)
• Victor Scott II: 10-Day IL (ankle)
• Nolan Arenado: 10-Day IL (shoulder)
• Zack Thompson: 60-Day IL (lat)

Pirates:

• Endy Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow)
• Enmanuel Valdez: 60-Day IL (shoulder)
• Justin Lawrence: 60-Day IL (elbow)
• Tim Mayza: 60-Day IL (shoulder)
• Jared Jones: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Weather

At Busch Stadium today, expect sunny skies and warm temperatures around 87°F—perfect conditions for baseball. There's little chance of precipitation, and winds will be light out of the southwest at 6–8 mph, ensuring a pleasant game atmosphere.

In summary

The Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals continue their NL Central battle with the Pirates holding both a lead in the current series and the season series. With Braxton Ashcraft and Miles Mikolas set as the probable starters, both teams will look to their top performers for an edge. The recent form slightly favors Pittsburgh, though the Cardinals have the advantage at home. Optimal weather should make for a great day of baseball at Busch Stadium as both teams aim to climb the NL Central standings.

Related Links

• Pittsburgh Pirates News & Updates
• Pittsburgh Pirates Schedule & Scores
• St. Louis Cardinals News & Updates
• St. Louis Cardinals Schedule & Scores
• MLB News