Skenes should give up 1-2….and Mikalos should give up 2-3. That puts value on a 4th run….we should also get the heart of the order up 3x

I like the Pirates here….Skenes is just everything you could hope for and the Cards are a team I’ve faded all year. Simple ML play.

Paul Skenes has gotten plenty of run support. The Pirates have scored nine runs, or more, in four of his five starts this season. Miles Mikolas owns a 5.81 home ERA and has allowed three runs, or more, in five of his last seven starts. Skenes has yet to allow more than three runs this year but when he gets pulled, things get a little dicey with the Pittsburgh bullpen, who currently own the second-worst ERA in the NL, 4.50.

Paul Skenes is back on five days' rest, a scenario that worked out well for him the first three times: 18 innings, nine hits and three earned runs allowed, with 23 strikeouts. The Cards have never seen him. Pittsburgh's bullpen, with the exception of Ben Heller, has been dominant recently. Everyone should be available following Monday's off day. St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas is coming off an impressive six-inning outing in Houston (2 ER, 5 hits, 0 BB), but at home he's 0-2 with a 5.81 ERA. Ke'Bryan Hayes, Rowdy Tellez and Bryan Reynolds all have strong career numbers versus Mikolas.

Miles Mikolas is pretty mediocre overall these days, but he does still eat innings -- at least six IP in four of his past five and we only need the veteran to get one out in the sixth here. Mikolas needed just 62 pitches to go six IP last time out, so he's pretty fresh. He also has quite good career numbers at Busch Stadium vs. the Bucs. And you don't think Mikolas will be a bit amped/motivated to be pitching opposite the hyped Paul Skenes? Offensively, Pittsburgh ranks 25th in road OPS.

We are backing Paul Skenes. Period. Pirates have won 4 of his 5 starts and they show big for their baby ace. Play their best ball behind him and I don't think it's a fluke. They have scored 45 runs in his starts. Yeah, I'm going to repeat that. This middling offensive outfit is the '27 Yanks with Skenes on the bump. Mile Mikolos has poor numbers vs the big bats in this Pirates lineup.