St. Louis at Pittsburgh

The St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates are even through 109 games this season at 56-53. This is a big series, with both trying to hang around the playoff picture. The Pirates went out and traded for Chris Archer before the deadline, but Archer has struggled at just 3-5 with a 4.31 ERA. His recent numbers, covering three seasons, shows 22-36 with a 4.10 ERA. I don't see him as a game-changer by any means. The Cardinals counter with righthander John Gant who is 3-4 with a 3.49 ERA on the season. St. Louis has owned the Pirates at home where they are 80-43 in their last 23, including an even better 14-3 in their last 17, with the Pirates plating one run or less in 8 of those 17. Back St. Louis.