Pittsburgh Pirates vs St. Louis Cardinals: Preview, Odds & Pitching Matchup for August 25, 2025

Monday, August 25th, 2025

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals: MLB Matchup Preview for August 25, 2025

The Pittsburgh Pirates travel to St. Louis to face the Cardinals in a pivotal NL Central matchup at Busch Stadium. Both teams are looking to improve their division standing as the season nears its conclusion.

Weather

Today at Busch Stadium, expect warm baseball weather with a high near 87°F under mostly sunny skies. Rain isn't expected, ensuring dry conditions for the game. Winds will be light from the southwest at 6–10 mph, posing only a slight factor for fly balls. Overall, it’s an ideal day for fans and players alike.

Pitching Matchup

The Pirates will send Johan Oviedo (1-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, nine strikeouts) to the mound. The Cardinals counter with Michael McGreevy (5-2, 4.26 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 33 strikeouts). Oddsmakers have the Cardinals favored at -142, with the Pirates at +119. The over/under stands at 8 runs.

Team Records and Series Overview

The Cardinals (64-67, fourth in the NL Central) are seeking to snap a five-game home losing streak. They boast a 35-30 record at Busch Stadium and are 47-13 in games where they score five or more runs.

The Pirates (57-74, fifth in the NL Central) have struggled on the road with an 18-44 record but perform well offensively when recording at least eight hits, earning a 38-23 mark in such games. This game marks the 10th meeting between the teams this season, with the Pirates holding a 5-4 lead in the season series.

Top Performers

For St. Louis, Alec Burleson leads the way, hitting .285 with 20 doubles, one triple, and 15 home runs. Willson Contreras has also been productive, going 10-for-35 with a double and three home runs over the last 10 games.

Recent Performance

In their last 10 games, the Cardinals are 3-7 with a .244 batting average and a 6.00 team ERA, having been outscored by 12 runs. The Pirates have fared better recently, going 6-4 with a .260 batting average and 3.21 ERA, outscoring opponents by eight runs in that span.

Injury Updates

The Cardinals are dealing with several injuries: Masyn Winn (day-to-day, undisclosed), Brendan Donovan (10-Day IL, groin), Victor Scott II (10-Day IL, ankle), Nolan Arenado (10-Day IL, shoulder), and Zack Thompson (60-Day IL, lat).

For the Pirates, Oneil Cruz is on the 7-Day IL (concussion), with Endy Rodriguez (elbow), Enmanuel Valdez (shoulder), Justin Lawrence (elbow), Tim Mayza (shoulder), and Jared Jones (elbow) all on the 60-Day IL.

In summary

The St. Louis Cardinals host the Pittsburgh Pirates in an NL Central battle with both teams motivated to finish their seasons strong. While St. Louis hopes to end a home skid and leverage their strong offensive games, the Pirates look to maintain their edge in the season series. With fair weather conditions, key player performances, and intriguing pitching matchups, fans can expect an engaging contest at Busch Stadium.

MLB Schedules

Today's MLB Games

There are no baseball games today.

Tomorrow's MLB Games

There are no baseball games tomorrow.

Yesterday's MLB Games

There were no baseball games yesterday.