Pirates Preview: Bucs Start Quick Getaway in St. Louis

Danny Demilio |

May 5, 2025

Things have gone from worse to even worse for the Pittsburgh Pirates following a 4-0 loss to the San Diego Padres on Sunday to cap off a 1-5 homestand at PNC Park.

It was a lifeless performance from the Pirates. There were far too many miscues and mental mistakes and starter Andrew Heaney struggled for the second time in a row.

The Pirates (12-23) will look for some positive momentum for the start of a three-game road series agaisnt the St. Louis Cardinals (16-19) on Monday night.

First pitch is set for 7:45 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Temperatures will dip into the 50s with cloudy skies overhead. Winds NW at 6-7 mph.

RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (1-3, 6.58 ERA)vs. Will Start for the Pirates

The Pirates will continue to give Mlodzinski run as a starting pitcher despite his struggles in the role through the first five and a half weeks of the season.

In his last start against the Cubs, the right-hander left with two runners on in the fifth inning having not allowed a run up to that point, but both runners came around to score against the bullpen.

So far this season, opponents are hitting a whopping .330 against Mlodzinski with an .858 OPS.

Mlodzinski has been effective against the Cardinals in his career. In eight previous matchups, he’s 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA (2er/13.0ip).

RHP Miles Mikolas (1-2, 4.66 ERA) Will Start for the Cardinals

Mikolas has been rolling of late and hasn’t allowed a run over his last two starts — a span of 11.1 innings.

Despite a somewhat inflated ERA, Mikolas has pitched well this season. Eight of the 15 earned runs against him came in one start against the Red Sox on Apr. 6. Combined between his other five starts on the season, he has a 2.39 ERA (7er/26.1ip).

Mikolas is 11th in the National League among starting pitchers with 20+ innings with a 2.93 FIP. He has yet to allow a home run this season.

This will be Mikolas’ 24th career appearance against the Pirates, the most he’s had against any team. Despite a 5-6 record against Pittsburgh, he has a 2.90 ERA (40er/124.0ip).

Cardinals Hitters vs. Mlodzinski

Brendan Donovan: 3 for 5, two RBI
Masyn Winn: 1 for 5, two strikeouts
Willson Contreras: 0 for 5, one walk, three strikeouts
Lars Nootbaar: 0 for 4, three strikeouts
Jordan Walker: 0 for 4, two strikeouts
Nolan Gorman: 0 for 3, three strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Mikolas

Bryan Reynolds: 14 for 39, four doubles, one triple, four RBI, one walk, four strikeouts
Adam Frazier: 13 for 34, four doubles, two triples, three RBI, one walk, three strikeouts
Andrew McCutchen: 3 for 25, one double, four strikeouts
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 8 for 21, one double, one triple, one RBI, two strikeouts
Oneil Cruz: 2 for 10, one double, one triple
Tommy Pham: 2 for 7, three RBI, four strikeouts

Tidbits

The Pirates went 0-3 against the Padres over the weekend after going 0-6 against them in 2024. Pittsburgh went 5-1 against San Diego in 2023.
Carmen Mlodiznski has yet to allow a run in the first or second innings this season (12.0ip), but he has a 12.21 ERA (19er/14.0ip) in innings three through five.
Miles Mikolas has gone a span of 32 innings pitched without allowing a home run dating back to last season.