Pirates

Pirates Preview: Bucs Look for Rubber Match Win Over Cardinals

Published

1 week ago

April 9, 2025

Photo provided by Eddie Provident

The Pittsburgh Pirates were defeated 5-3 by the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night on a bitterly cold night at PNC Park.

Paul Skenes allowed a career-high five runs and took his first loss of the season while the offense couldn’t get anything going until it was too late.

The Pirates (4-8) will try and win their first series of the year in the rubber match against the Cardinals (5-6) on Wednesday afternoon.

First pitch is set for 12:35 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh as well as 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Partly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-to-upper 40s. Winds WSW at 7 mph.

RHP Mitch Keller (1-1, 7.45 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

It was a rough outing for Keller his last time out when he faced the New York Yankees at PNC Park in the home opener on Friday.

Keller suffered the loss after giving up seven runs on eights in 3.2 innings. He walked four batters and struck out four.

Keller’s first game of the season came in the second game of the season in Miami. The right-hander was the winning pitcher after holding the Marlins to one run in 6.0 innings.

Keller has faced the Cardinals 13 times in his career and 2-3 with a 3.72 ERA.

RHP Erick Fedde (1-1, 7.00 ERA) Will Start for the Cardinals

Fedde’s first start of the season was excellent. The 32-year-old needed only 73 pitches to complete 6.0 innings and he held the Minnesota Twins to one run on two hits.

His second start wasn’t nearly as good. Fedde allowed six runs and walked four batters in 3.0 innings against the Boston Red Sox on Friday.

Fedde was acquired from the Chicago White Sox at least year’s trade deadline in a deal that also sent current Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham to St. Louis.

Fedde has pitched well in three career appearances against the Pirates. Entering Wednesday’s start, he’s 1-0 with a 2.81 ERA.

Cardinals Hitters vs. Keller

Nolan Arenado: 4 for 24, one double, one home run, four RBI, one walk, four strikeouts
Willson Contreras: 7 for 19, three doubles, one home run, two RBI, two walks, four strikeouts
Brendan Donovan: 4 for 18, one double, one home run, one RBI
Lars Nootbaar: 6 for 15, one double, one home run, two RBI, five walks, four strikeouts
Masyn Winn: 4 for 13, one double, one triple, three strikeouts
Alec Burleson: 3 for 12, one home run, two RBI, two strikeouts
Michael Siani: 3 for 7, two strikeouts
Pedro Pagés: 2 for 6, one RBI
Jordan Walker: 2 for 6, two strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Fedde

Andrew McCutchen: 5 for 19, one double, one home run, three RBI, three strikeouts
Adam Frazier: 2 for 8, one strikeout
Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 8, one walk, three strikeouts
Oneil Cruz: 1 for 6, one home run, one RBI, one strikeout
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 1 for 5, one double, one strikeout
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 1 for 5, one double, two strikeouts
Tommy Pham: 1 for 4, one strikeout

Tidbits

Paul Skenes has taken the loss in four starts in his career. Three of those have come against the Cardinals. The other was against the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers on 8/10/24.
Andrew McCutchen drove in a run on a ground out in the top of the ninth inning. It was the 1,100th RBI of his career, which is fifth-most among active players.
Mitch Keller has lost his last three starts against the Cardinals. His last win came on 8/20/21 at Busch Stadium.