The 2013 NLDS takes off with the Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals at 5 p.m. ET. It should be a tough matchup as the Pirates and Cardinals have faced off 19 times this season with the Pirates having the 10-9 series edge. Who will win tonight? Here are predictions for the Pirates, Cardinals Game 1 of their NLDS meeting.
Adam Wainwright will be set the tone of the Cardinals' pitching staff and bullpen in the series. The ace takes the ball in Game 1, though a Game 3 start seems like a better idea for a few reasons. However, Mike Matheny wants to erase any chance of the Pirates stealing one in their home turf. Look for Wainwright to pitch at least seven dominant innings of baseball.
Johnny Cueto missed his spots on Tuesday and the Pirates made him pay. Wainwright is masterful, winning 19 games during the regular season and posting a 2.94 ERA in 34 starts in 2013. In the postseason, Wainwright is 2-0 with a 2.48 ERA. Last year, in the NLDS, the Washington Nationals' lineup lit him up for seven runs in eight innings, but this year as the team's official ace, Wainwright should dominate.
In 2013, Wainwright and the Pirates met three times. He finished with a 1-0 record accompanied by a 3.00 ERA, surrendering seven earned runs in 21 innings pitched. He also struck out 20 hitters while walking six, keeping his cool though facing their division foe.
The Cardinals will not have an easy time defeating the Pirates. A.J. Burnett, their savvy veteran takes the mound. Though he has struggled horribly during the postseason in his career, Burnett is great in the Division Series games. In two ALDS starts, Burnett is 1-0 with a 1.54 ERA.
Burnett is no stranger to the postseason and he is no stranger to the Cardinals, who have faced him six times in 2013. He went 3-1 with a3.67 ERA allowing 14 runs in 34.1 innings, striking out 37 Cardinals, while keeping the baseball within the fences. Burnett faced 138 Cardinals in 2013 and none of them hit a home run in these six games. If Burnett can keep this up in the postseason, this should be a long series as he will prevent the Cardinals from putting up big innings.
Wainwright's worst start against the Pirates came back in July. He surrendered four earned runs in seven innings pitched. Burnett's worst start saw him give up five earned runs in just three innings pitched back in September. However, he's been extremely efficient in his last three starts striking out 26 in 21.2 innings pitched.
Final Score Predictions: The Pirates were able to take advantage of errors in the N.L. Wild Card Game against the Reds. However, look for the Cardinals to execute, especially as they will play at home and will not have to worry about the raucous in Pittsburgh. Wainwright will probably go seven and Burnett will try to match this. However, with Burnett's unstable past, I think he will give in first and give up just enough runs to give Wainwright room to work freely.
Cardinals Win 4-2