Pirates

Pirates Preview: Can Bucs Finally Put an End to Slide in St. Louis?

Published

2 weeks ago

May 7, 2025

Pittsburgh Pirates' Mitch Keller pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

The Pittsburgh Pirates were defeated again by the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night, making it six losses in a row.

For the second-straight game, the Pirates had a lead in the sixth inning but couldn’t walk away with a win. Despite a strong start, Paul Skenes took his fourth loss of the season. eclipsing his 2024 total.

The Pirates (12-25) will look to salvage the series against the Cardinals (18-19) on Wednesday afternoon and prevent a seventh-consecutive loss.

First pitch is set for 1:15 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Mix of clouds and sunshine with temperatures in the low-70s. Winds ESE at 7-8 mph.

RHP Mitch Keller (1-3, 4.38 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Keller was roughed up in his last start against the Padres on Friday night, when he allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts.

The outing ended a string of four solid starts in a row. Dating back to his start on Apr. 9 against the Cardinals, Keller had a 2.59 ERA over that span.

Keller’s 16.8% strikeout rate is the lowest of his career but his 1.7% home run rate is the best he’s ever had in a season.

In 14 career starts against St. Louis, Keller is 2-3 with a 3.38 ERA. He tossed 7.1-shutout innings against them earlier this season.

RHP Sonny Gray (3-1, 4.12 ERA) Will Start for the Cardinals

Gray last pitched against the Mets on Friday and was tagged for six runs (four earned) on nine hits and three walks with six strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched.

In his four starts to end the month of April, Gray went 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA and a .598 opponent’s OPS.

In five starts at Busch Stadium this season, Gray has a 4.45 ERA compared to a 3.27 ERA in two road starts.

Gray allowed one run in 5.0 innings against the Pirates on Apr. 8. In 13 career appearances/12 starts against Pittsburgh, Gray is 6-4 with a 4.02 ERA.

Cardinals Hitters vs. Keller

Nolan Arenado: 4 for 27, one double, one home run, four RBI, one walk, four strikeouts
Willson Contreras: 7 for 23, three doubles, one home run, two RBI, two walks, nine strikeouts
Brendan Donovan: 5 for 21, one double, one home run, one RBI
Lars Nootbaar: 6 for 18, one double, one home run, two RBI, five walks, four strikeouts
Nolan Gorman: 4 for 17, one double, two home runs, five RBI, two walks, four strikeouts
Alec Burleson: 4 for 15, one double, one home run, two RBI, two strikeouts
Msyn Winn: 4 for 15, one double, one triple, one walk, three strikeouts
Pedro Pagés: 2 for 9, one RBI, two strikeouts
Jordan Walker: 2 for 6, two strikeouts
Jose Barrero: 0 for 6, one RBI, three strikeouts
Victor Scott II: 1 for 3, two strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Gray

Bryan Reynolds: 7 for 21, two doubles, three home runs, four RBI, eight strikeouts
Adam Frazier: 3 for 20, two RBI, three strikeouts
Andrew McCutchen: 3 for 15, two doubles, two RBI, two walks, seven strikeouts
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 2 for 11, two RBI, four strikeouts
Oneil Cruz: 1 for 5, one double, two strikeouts
Tommy Pham: 1 for 5, one double, one walk, one strikeout
Joey Bart: 1 for 4, one double, one walk, one strikeout
Jared Triolo: 2 for 3, one strikeout
Liover Peguero: 1 for 3

Tidbits

Four of the seven losses Paul Skenes has taken in his career have come against the Cardinals. He’s now 0-4 in five career starts against St. Louis.
Ke’Bryan Hayes’ RBI double in the sixth inning was the 500th hit of his career.
The Pirates are the lone team in baseball yet to win a game in May. After Tuesday night’s loss, they’re 0-6 this month.