Sunday May 27th MLB Free Pick
Either Pittsburgh or St. Louis Will Be in 2nd in the NL Central After Today
One of the better games on the Memorial Day Sunday MLB slate is the rubber match of the series between the Cardinals and Pirates. Oddsmakers are a bit torn on what to expect in the May 27th MLB free pick. The line opened as high as STL -130 at some books but has since shifted to PIT -118 at home. Miles Mikolas hasn’t lost a game yet for the Cards while Jameson Taillon can have electric stuff any time he takes the mound for the Bucs. It should be a good one at PNC Park.
Is There Good Value on the Cardinals Today?
St. Louis had been in a bit of a slump, dropping the last two of the series against Kansas City and the opener here on Friday night. They scored just 4 runs total in those three games. The bats did come alive a bit in last night’s 4-1 win to even the series at 1-1.Both the Cards and Pirates now sit 4 back from the red hot Brewers in the Central. The Cards do have some demons to expel as they were swept by the Bucs at PNC park in late April
The Cardinals send Miles Mikolas to the mound, looking to go 7-0 on the year. The right hander is coming off a complete game shutout in his last start against the Royals. That made it three ER allowed total over his last four starts. Mikolas has faced Pittsburgh once this year, allowing 2ER in 7 IP. Despite these solid numbers, Pittsburgh does hit RH pitching well. They have a .347 wOBA against righties and strike out just 18% of the time against them. Because of this the total in the May 27th MLB free pick could have a tendency to go ‘over.’
Pittsburgh Looks for a Consistent Effort From Taillon
Jameson Taillon has had an up-and-down 2018 as evidenced by his 2-4 record and 4.56 ERA. Taillon had decent swing and miss stuff his last outing, but still surrendered 6ER in 6.0 IP. The right hander had been stellar prior to that, allowing just 3 total ER in the three starts prior (one was a 3.0 IP performance after leaving with a finger laceration on May 11th). Taillon missed the Cardinals the first time around, but was 1-1 with a 4.71 ERA in four starts against them in 2017.
Pittsburgh will aim to keep the bats rolling in the May 27th MLB free pick. The Bucs have the #6 scoring offense in the majors including being top 5 in BA and OPS. Pittsburgh has scored 4+ in 4 of the last 6 games and outscored St. Louis 17-7 during the sweep in late April. Austin Meadows, Jody Mercer, and Josh Harrison are all swinging hot bats, hitting over .350 the past 7 days. Gregory Polanco and Sean Rodriguez both went yard off Mikolas in the first meeting this year.
May 27th MLB Free Pick Betting
66% of the public is on the Cardinals today yet the line has shifted in the opposite direction. It’s not a bad bet to back St. Louis with Mikolas on the mound, but they’ve been owned by Pittsburgh during the year. What this game should be is a low scoring affair with two solid pitchers taking the hill and the Cardinals offense struggling a bit.
Free Pick: St. Louis Cardinals / Pittsburgh Pirates *Under* 8
