Pirates

Pirates Preview: Bucs Face First National League Central Foe

Published

1 week ago

April 7, 2025

Danny Demilio

Image provided by Eddie Provident

The Pittsburgh Pirates got a much-needed win when they defeated the New York Yankees in 11 innings 0n Sunday afternoon.

Tommy Pham came through in the bottom of the 11th with a walk-off single to the track in left field. Andrew Heaney got a no-decision despite throwing seven-brilliant innings and striking out 10 batters.

Up Next for the Pirates (3-7) is their first home night game of 2025 and their first divisional matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals (4-5) coming to town.

First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh as well as 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

If you’re heading to the ballpark, bring a jacket and a blanket. Temperatures should dip to around 40 degrees as the game goes on with cloudy skies. Winds NW at 14-15 mph.

RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (0-1, 9.82 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Mldozinski made his first start of the season against the Tampa Bay Rays last week and fared well early before unraveling in the fourth.

The right-hander tossed 3.2 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Mldozinski was named the club’s fifth starter out of spring training after pitching out of the bullpen the last two seasons. In the Grapefruit League, the 26-year-old posted a 3.72 ERA (4er/9.2ip) in four appearances.

Mlodzinski has made seven bullpen appearances against the Cardinals in his career and has dominated. He’s all0wed just one run in 8.0 innings and struck out 12.

LHP Matthew Liberatore (0-0, 4.50 ERA) Will Start for the Cardinals

Liberatore delivered a quality start for the Cardinals against the Los Angeles Angels in his first start of the season.

The left-hander allowed three runs on six hits in 6.0 innings, didn’t walk a batter and struck out four. He got a no-decision in a 9-7 loss for St. Louis.

Liberatore made six appearances for the Cardinals in spring training and only allowed three runs on nine hits in 16.1 innings.

This will be his ninth appearance and fifth start against the Pirates. To date, he’s 1-2 with a 6.33 ERA against Pittsburgh in his career.

Cardinals Hitters vs. Mlodzinski

Masyn Winn: 1 for 3, one strikeout
Willson Contreras, 0 for 3, two strikeouts
Michael Siani: 0 for 3

Pirates Hitters vs. Liberatore

Bryan Reynolds: 4 for 9, one double, one home run, two RBIs, one strikeout
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 1 for 9, one strikeout
Oneil Cruz: 1 for 6, one double, one walk, one strikeout
Andrew McCutchen: 0 for 6, one RBI, one walk, three strikeouts
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 3 for 4, one double
Jack Suwinski: 1 for 4, two walks, one strikeout
Tommy Pham: 0 for 4, two strikeouts
Joey Bart: 0 for 3, two strikeouts

Tidbits

Pham’s walk-off knock in the 11th inning snapped an 0-for-17 skid. He entered play with just two hits in 26 at-bats to begin the year.
Heaney’s 10 strikeouts and 7.0 innings pitched both matched last year’s season-highs, which came on June 30 against the Baltimore Orioles.
Sunday’s win marked the first time the Pirates scored more than four runs in a game this season. They scored exactly four runs six times through their first nine games.