Pirates

Pirates Preview: Paul Skenes Looking to Rebound, Snap Streak

Published

3 weeks ago

May 6, 2025

Photo provided by Matt Lynch

The Pittsburgh Pirates lost their fifth in a row and for the eighth time in their last nine game when they were defeated 6-3 by the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.

Bryan Reynolds hit a two-run homer to give the Pirates an early lead by Chase Shugart took the loss after allowing four runs in the sixth.

The Pirates (12-24) will look to end their slide against the Cardinals (17-19) behind ace Paul Skenes on Tuesday 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

Partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the upper-60s. Winds SE at 6 mph.

RHP Paul Skenes (3-3, 2.74 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Skenes struggled with command and allowed three home runs against the Cubs in an 8-3 Pirates’ loss in his last start on Thursday.

Entering that start, Skenes had only allowed one home run through his first six starts and matched his season total for walks with four.

In three starts prior to his most recent, Skenes delivered three quality starts and posted a 1.40 ERA (3er/19.1ip).

Skenes is looking for his first-career win against the Cardinals. In four previous matchups, he’s 0-3 with a 2.70 ERA. The right-hander faced St. Louis on Apr. 8 and took the loss after allowing five runs in 6.0 innings.

LHP Matthew Liberatore (2-3, 3.44 ERA) Will Start for the Cardinals

Despite only lasting 3.0 innings in his last start, Liberatore has been on a roll of late.

Over his last four starts, the left-hander is 2-2 with a 3.08 ERA. Opponents have slashed just .198/.226/.284 against him over that time.

Liberatore enters his start against the Pirates as the National League leader in walks per nine (0.8) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (10.00). Among starters with 30-plus innings, Liberatore ranks eighth in baseball with a 2.34 FIP.

Liberatore has faced the Pirates nine times in his career and is 1-3 with a 6.51 ERA. On Apr. 7, Liberatore allowed five runs in 6.1 innings against them.

Cardinals Hitters vs. Skenes

Alec Burleson: 5 for 12, two RBI, one walk, two strikeouts
Masyn Winn: 2 for 12, two strikeouts
Nolan Arenado: 4 for 11, one double, one home run, two RBI, one walk
Brendan Donovan: 3 for 10, one double, one RBI
Pedro Pagés: 1 for 7, one RBI, two strikeouts
Nolan Gorman: 1 for 6, two strikeouts
Willson Contreras: 0 for 6, four strikeouts
Jordan Walker: 1 for 5, three strikeouts
Lars Nootbaar: 0 for 5, three strikeouts
Victor Scott II: 1 for 3, one triple, two RBI

Pirates Hitters vs. Liberatore

Ke’Bryan Hayes: 2 for 12, one walk, two strikeouts
Bryan Reynolds: 4 for 9, one double, one home run, two RBI, one strikeout
Oneil Cruz: 1 for 9, one double, one walk, two strikeouts
Andrew McCutchen: 1 for 9, one RBI, one walk, three strikeouts
Tommy Pham: 1 for 7, three strikeouts
Joey Bart: 1 for 6, one home run, one RBI, three strikeouts
Adam Frazier: 1 for 4, one RBI, two strikeouts
Alexander Canario: 0 for 3

Tidbits

Oneil Cruz was caught stealing in the third inning on Monday. It snapped a string of 34-consecutive successful stolen base attempts and the first time he was caught since last season on Apr. 22.
Paul Skenes has only taken the loss six times in his career. Half of those losses have come against the Cardinals.
The Pirates are 2-6 in their last eight games at Busch Stadium bating back to the start of last season.