St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates odds, picks and prediction

St. Louis Cardinals are 64-61 and have slim playoff hopes. They begin a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates (46-81) Thursday at 7:05 p.m. ET at PNC Park. Cardinals' Miles Mikolas (0-1, 1.00 ERA) makes his third start. Pirates' Mitch Keller (4-10, 6.35 ERA, 4.7 BB/9, 8.9 K/ 9) has a 7.82 ERA over 38 IP at home this season.

Mikolas made his first big-league start in three months last week. He has recorded a 3.82 ERA and 7.9 K/9 with just 2 HR allowed in six career games at PNC Park.

Keller held the Cardinals scoreless in his last start. He has a 7.82 ERA over 38 IP at home this season.

Cardinals at Pirates is a free, daily sports pick’em contest.

Keller had one of his best starts of the year against the Cardinals last time out. Mikolas' velocity was way down in his first start of this season in May. The Cardinals are going to win on the road.

The Pirates are playing against the Cardinals. The Pirates have won 8 of the last 11 games. Keller has been better lately and has issued no more than 1 free passes in three of his last four starts. Mikolas is tough to trust after a long layoff.