The St. Louis Cardinals are set to face the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-game series that has fans speculating on matchups and outcomes. The Pirates have struggled this season, currently sitting 15 games under .500 and possessing a lackluster offense ranked 29th in baseball based on weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+). Despite their challenges, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff, particularly their starting pitchers, has kept them competitive with an fWAR ranking eighth in the league.
The Cardinals’ first game on Monday at 5:40 PM features Erick Fedde, who has a 4.11 ERA, taking on the Pirates’ Andrew Heaney, who has allowed 14 earned runs in his last two outings. The Cardinals may feel encouraged going into the matchup, as Fedde previously pitched six scoreless innings against the Pirates. Many fans are hopeful, however, that the persistent struggles of opposing pitchers will continue.
Tuesday’s game will see Andre Pallante face the promising Paul Skenes, who boasts a 2.12 ERA, marking him as a tough challenge for the Cardinals. Skenes, despite inconsistent run support from his teammates, has managed to maintain strong pitching numbers. The Cardinals will need to bring their offensive A-game to ensure a victory.
The series wraps up on Wednesday with Sonny Gray taking the mound against Mitch Keller. This season, Gray has demonstrated strong performances with a 3.36 ERA, while Keller has shown variability throughout the year. The Cardinals will be hoping to capitalize on Keller’s inconsistency, as they feel the pressure of maintaining their scoring abilities.
Overall, the series presents an opportunity for the Cardinals to either solidify their position or face the real risk of underperformance against a struggling opponent. Fans remain optimistic, recalling earlier triumphs over the Pirates while being cautiously aware of the unpredictability in baseball. This series could very well define the Cardinals’ potential to bounce back and gather momentum as they approach the closing weeks of the season.