On the evening of September 19, 2024, the Pittsburgh Pirates are set to challenge the St. Louis Cardinals at St. Louis’s Busch Stadium, with a first pitch scheduled for 7:15 PM under clear skies. The game features a pitching duel between the Pirates’ Luis L. Ortiz, who enters with a solid ERA of 3.448, and the Cardinals’ Erick Fedde, who matches closely with an ERA of 3.450. In the current standings within the 2024 NL Central Division, the Pirates find themselves in 12th place with a record of 71-81, putting them 5th in divisional play. They come off a three-game losing streak, despite a fair showing in their last 10 games. Conversely, the St. Louis Cardinals hold the 8th spot in the division with a record of 77-75, securing the 2nd position in divisional rankings and climbing on a three-game win streak. St. Louis has garnered more home wins (42) compared to their road outings (35 wins), while Pittsburgh faces a bit of a struggle both home and away. In terms of scoring, Pittsburgh has outpaced St. Louis with 633 runs to 624, though both teams have allowed more runs than they have scored. Bettors should take note of the odds: the Cardinals are favored with a -1.5 point spread and a home team money line of -140. The over/under for the game is set at 8.0, and the Pirates hold an underdog position with an away team money line of 121, reflecting expectations of a tightly contested battle.