The Pittsburgh Pirates have won four straight games as underdogs, with a lopsided run differential of plus forty. I believe that has inflated today’s price point on Paul Skenes, whose three instances of issues this season have come within the division. He’s averaged just five innings pitched over his last three starts, and Pittsburgh has lost four straight games against St. Louis with Skenes on the mound. Grab the St. Louis Cardinals as the underdog.

Are these the Pirates? In this current homestand, Pittsburgh is looking more like the 1927 Yankees with four straight wins over the Mets and Cards by a combined score of 37-4. None of that, however, was accomplished with Paul Skenes, who is on the mound tonight after a rare bumpy outing and his shortest stint of the season (just four innings) last Wednesday at Milwaukee. The Cards, reeling after a 7-0 loss last night following their weekend sweep in Cleveland, have to hope Andre Pallante (4.91 ERA in June) can at least match Skenes until the bullpens take over in the later innings. Also note the Bucs' current 11-3 run at PNC Park. Play Pirates on Run Line

The St. Louis Cardinals were shutout yesterday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates have now won four straight games, with their last loss being with Paul Skenes on the mound. Skenes has had his issues against St. Louis in his career, including giving up a season high five runs this year. Take Burleson’s total bases over, as he is batting .400 against Skenes.