Pirates

Pirates Preview: Can Bucs Leave St. Louis With a Win?

Published

3 weeks ago

September 19, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped their third-straight game against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 10-5 loss at Busch Stadium on Wednesday night.

Billy Cook hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the sixth inning but relievers David Bednar and Jalen Beeks combined to allow a six-run seventh inning for St. Louis.

The Pirates (71-81) will try and salvage the four-game series against the Cardinals (77-75) before hitting the road to Cincinnati.

First pitch is set for 7:15 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

Hot and sunny. Winds SSE at 6 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Luis Ortiz (6-6, 3.45 ERA)

Ortiz was roughed up in his last start against the Kansas City Royals. The right-hander allowed seven runs (four earned) on five hits including two homers in four innings.

It’s been back-to-back losses for Ortiz after going two-straight starts without allowing a run to end August.

Working in Ortiz’s favor on Thursday is the fact that he will be pitching on the road. In 17 road appearances, he has a 2.84 ERA compared to a 3.97 ERA at PNC Park.

Ortiz made one relief appearance against the Cardinals this season and allowed one run in two innings. In his career against St. Louis, he’s 0-2 with an ugly 14.63 ERA (13er/8ip).

The St. Louis Cardinals Will Send Out RHP Erick Fedde (8-9, 3.45 ERA)

Fedde has been inconsistent since joining the Cardinals at the trade deadline. In eight starts, he’s gone 1-5 with a 4.43 ERA.

The right-hander has dropped four-straight decisions while the Cardinals have lost five of the last six games he’s started and six of eight overall.

Fedde relies on four pitches, primarily his cutter and sinker, mixingthe two evenly for almost two-thirds of his offerings. He also features a sweeper and changeup.

The 31-year-old faced the Pirates twice previously and is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA against them.

Cardinals Hitters vs. Ortiz

Nolan Arenado: 2 for 5, one double, two RBIs, one walk, one strikeout
Paul Goldschmidt: 3 for 4, one double, one RBI, two walks
Alec Burleson: 1 for 4, two walks, two strikeouts
Masyn Winn: 1 for 3, one strikeout

Pirates Hitters vs. Fedde

Andrew McCutchen: 5 for 19, one double, one home run, three RBIs, three strikeouts
Bryan De La Cruz: 6 for 12, two doubles, one home run, one RBI, one walk
Bryan Reynolds: 1 for 6, three strikeouts
Rowdy Tellez: 1 for 6, one home run, two RBIs, two walks, one strikeout
Oneil Cruz: 1 for 3, one home run, one RBI
Connor Joe: 0 for 3, one walk

Tidbits

David Bednar has allowed nine home runs this season in 54 innings. Bednar had allowed a total of seven home runs in 119 innings between 2022-23
With two hits in Wednesday’s loss, Andrew McCutchen now has 202 in his career against the Cardinals, the most he has against any one team.
The Pirates have lost five-straight games at Busch Stadium and six of their last seven in St. Louis dating back to last season.