Pirates

Pirates Preview: Bucs, Cardinals Settle Big Series in Wednesday Rubber Match

Published

3 months ago

July 24, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates had plenty of chances but could not capitalize in a 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.

Paul Skenes worked into the ninth inning for the first time in his career with another stellar start but the Pirates’ offense fell flat. Pittsburgh had the bases loaded twice and a man on second with nobody out but couldn’t push across a run in any of those three chances. Nick Gonzales was responsible for driving in the lone run with an eighth-inning single.

The Pirates (51-50) will try and recover in Wednesday’s rubber match against the division-rival Cardinals (53-48). The two teams won’t meet again until a four-game series in St. Louis from Sept. 16-19.

First pitch is set for 12:35 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

Hot and sunny. Temperatures in the mid-90s and winds SW at 9 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out LHP Martín Pérez (1-5, 5.61 ERA)

It was another rough outing for Pérez in his last start in the first game of the homestand against the Phillies. The left-hander allowed six runs and a pair of homers in 3.2 innings pitched.

Outside of a 7.1-inning gem pitched on the Fourth of July against the Cardinals, it’s been a struggle ever since he returned from the injured list on June 28. In four starts, he’s gone 0-2 with an 8.24 ERA.

Pérez’s pitch mix rates amongst the worst in baseball, so he will need to turn it around with rotation reinforcements working their way back from injuries.

Pérez has faced the Cardinals four times in his career and is 1-0 with a 2.36 ERA.

The St. Louis Cardinals Will Send Out LHP Matthew Liberatore (2-2, 4.15 ERA)

It will be a bullpen game for the Cardinals with Liberatore being the first one out.

Liberatore has served as an opener/starting pitcher five times this season and is 1-1 with a 5.03 ERA at the beginning of games. As a reliever, Liberatore has a 3.62 ERA.

The left-hander’s best pitch is his slider which he throws 30% of the time. He’ll mix in plenty of four-seamers and sinkers and has a cutter, curveball and changeup to round out his six-pitch mix.

Liberatore has made five appearances/three starts agaisnt the Pirates and is 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA.

Cardinals Hitters vs. Pérez

Nolan Arenado: 1 for 13, one home run, two RBIs, two walks
Paul Goldschmidt: 2 for 11, one RBI, one walk, two strikeouts
Willson Contreras: 1 for 8, one double, one walk
Matt Carpenter: 2 for 5, one walk
Brandon Crawford: 1 for 5, one home run, three RBIs, one strikeout
Brendan Donovan: 1 for 5, one walk
Dylan Carlson: 2 for 3, one double, one RBI
Alec Burleson: 1 for 3

Pirates Hitters vs. Liberatore

Ke’Bryan Hayes: 1 for 8, one strikeout
Bryan Reynolds: 3 for 7, one double, one home run, two RBIs, one strikeout
Oneil Cruz: 1 for 4, one double, one walk, one strikeout
Jack Suwinski: 1 for 4, two walks, one strikeout
Andrew McCutchen: 0 for 4, one strikeout
Michael A. Taylor: 1 for 2, one home run, two RBIs

Tidbits

Paul Skenes became the first pitcher since at least 1901 to strikeout at least seven batters in 11 of his first 12 career starts.
His 8.1 innings pitched in Tuesday’s loss were the most by a Pirates’ rookie since Zach Duke threw 8.1 innings on Aug. 1, 2005 against the Braves in Atlanta.
Over their last three games, the Pirates have left 20 runners on base and have scored three runs.