Pirates

Pirates Preview: Can Bucs Keep Rolling vs. Cardinals?

Published

2 weeks ago

June 30, 2025

Pittsburgh Pirates' Bryan Reynolds hits an RBI triple during the third inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Monday, June 9, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

The Pittsburgh Pirates capped off a series sweep of the New York Mets with a 12-1 trashing on Sunday afternoon at PNC Park.

Oneil Cruz hit two of the four Pirates’ home runs in the win, and Henry Davis set a career-high with four hits.

The Pirates (35-50) will look to keep on rolling as they seek their fourth win in a row against the St. Louis Cardinals (47-38) on Monday night. The Pirates’ longest win streak this season is four games.

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

Weather

Chance for storms leading up to and through game time. Temperatures in the upper 70s with winds SW at 4-6 mph.

LHP Andrew Heaney (3-7, 4.48 ERA) Will Start For the Pirates

In each of his last two starts, Heaney has allowed seven runs in only 4.0 innings while taking the loss on both occasions.

Prior to his two most recent starts, Heaney had a 3.33 ERA through his first 14 starts of the season and had worked at least 5.0 innings in 12 of those.

Heaney has fared much better this season when pitching at PNC Park. In seven home starts, the left-hander has a 2.95 ERA vs. a 5.79 ERA on the road.

Heaney has struggled against the Cardinals in his career. In three previous meetings, he’s 0-2 with an 11.57 ERA.

RHP Erick Fedde (3-7, 4.11 ERA) Will Start For the Cardinals

Fedde pitched against the Cubs on Wednesday and was tagged for seven runs on eight hits — three home runs — in 3.2 innings.

Through his first four starts in June, the right-hander posted a 2.49 ERA across 21.2 innings pitched.

Fedde doesn’t rely on strikeouts — his 5.85 strikeouts per nine innings are the fourth-lowest among qualified Major League pitchers, but he’s still been effective.

Fedde tossed 6.0-shutout innings against the Pirates at PNC Park on April 9. In four career starts against Pittsburgh, he’s 1-0 with a 2.05 ERA.

Mets Hitters vs. Heaney

Nolan Arenado: 0 for 9, one walk, two strikeouts
Garrett Hampson: 1 for 7, one RBI, three strikeouts
Alec Burleson: 1 for 3, two RBI
Willson Contreras: 1 for 3, one double
Brendan Donovan: 1 for 3, one RBI, one one walk

Pirates Hitters vs. Fedde

Andrew McCutchen: 5 for 21, one double, one home run, three RBI, three strikeouts
Adam Frazier: 2 for 10, one strikeout
Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 10, two walks, four strikeouts
Oneil Cruz: 1 for 6, one home run, one RBI, one strikeout
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 1 for 6, one double, one walk, one strikeout
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 1 for 5, one double, two strikeouts
Tommy Pham: 1 for 5, one walk, one strikeout
Nick Gonzales: 1 for 3, one triple

Tidbits

The Pirates outscored the Mets 30-4 over the weekend. The +26 run differential was tied for their fourth-best in a three-game series in club history and the biggest differential since outscoring the Chicago Cubs by 29 runs in 1975.
The Pirates had 12 hits in each of the first two games of the series and 16 hits on Sunday. They hit .374 (40 for 107) in the series.
Bryan Reynolds is on a seven-game hitting streak and has multiple hits in five of those games. He’s batting .419 (13 for 31) with six doubles, two home runs and six RBI during the streak.