The Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals meet Saturday at Busch Stadium with the Cardinals holding a 4-1 win in Friday’s opener. Both teams are battling for positioning in the NL Central, and injuries have thinned both rosters.
The Pittsburgh Pirates (65-71) and St. Louis Cardinals (68-68) renew their NL Central rivalry Saturday at Busch Stadium, with the Cardinals aiming to clinch the series after taking Friday’s opener 4-1. Both teams enter with playoff hopes hanging by a thread, and with injuries piling up on both sides, this matchup could hinge on depth and timely hitting. The Cardinals hold a three-game edge over the Pirates in the division standings, but Pittsburgh has a chance to even the series before Sunday’s rubber match.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Seeking Offensive Answers
The Pirates dropped to 65-71 with Friday’s loss, leaving them seven games under .500 and fourth in the NL Central. Pittsburgh’s lineup managed just one run against Cardinals rookie Quinn Mathews, who allowed one run over 5⅔ innings for his first MLB win. The Pirates had won a series against San Diego earlier in the week, but their bats went quiet against a pitcher they’d never seen.
Injuries have ravaged the roster: Mitch Keller (60-day IL), Konnor Griffin (60-day IL), and a host of regulars on the 10-day IL, including Everson Pereira, Masyn Winn, Blaze Jordan, Ryan O’Hearn, and Endy Rodriguez. With Keller out, the rotation is stretched thin, and the bullpen is missing Andre Pallante and Peter Strzelecki (both 15-day IL). Pittsburgh will need unproven arms to carry innings, and the lineup must find a way to manufacture runs without several key bats.
St. Louis Cardinals: Riding Momentum and Youth
The Cardinals improved to 68-68 with Friday’s 4-1 victory, their second straight win after snapping a five-game losing streak with a 7-5 win over Baltimore on Thursday. Jimmy Crooks provided the offensive spark with a two-run homer, while Mathews delivered a strong start. The Cardinals are third in the NL Central, three games behind the second-place Pirates? Actually, the standings show St. Louis ahead of Pittsburgh by three games, so the Cardinals are in a better position as they chase a wild-card berth.
St. Louis also has a lengthy injury list, including Masyn Winn, Ryan O’Hearn (10-day IL), Andre Pallante, Peter Strzelecki (15-day IL), and Konnor Griffin (60-day IL), plus others. However, the emergence of young players like Mathews and Crooks offers hope. The Cardinals will look to build on their momentum and clinch the series before rosters expand Tuesday.
Head-to-Head: Pitching and Health
Friday’s game was decided by pitching and one swing: Mathews limited the Pirates to one run, and Crooks’ homer proved the difference. Both teams are dealing with significant injuries, but the Cardinals’ recent offensive outburst (7 runs against Baltimore) suggests they may have more pop available. The Pirates, meanwhile, have scored just one run in their last two games combined.
- Pirates are 65-71, fourth in the NL Central, seven games under .500.
- Cardinals are 68-68, third in the NL Central, riding a two-game win streak.
- Injuries: Pirates have 9 players on the IL; Cardinals have 9 players on the IL.
- Quinn Mathews earned his first MLB win with 5⅔ IP, 1 ER on Friday.
- Jimmy Crooks hit a two-run homer in Friday’s 4-1 win.
Prediction
With both teams’ depth tested, the Cardinals’ home-field advantage and recent momentum give them the edge. Pittsburgh’s offense has been shut down, and St. Louis’s young arms are stepping up. Expect a low-scoring affair, but the Cardinals should take the series with a 3-2 win.
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