Pirates

Pirates Preview: Bucs Try and Rebound After Shutout-Loss to Cardinals

Published

3 weeks ago

September 17, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates were shutout 4-0 against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first of a four-game series at Busch Stadium on Monday night.

Paul Skenes allowed one run and struck out seven across six innings but was outdueled by Andre Pallante and suffered his third loss of the season.

The Pirates (71-79) will look to rebound with Bailey Falter on the mound against the Cardinals (75-75) on Tuesday night.

First pitch is set for 7:45 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

Clear skies with temperatures dropping into the low-70s throughout the game. Winds S at 5-6 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out LHP Bailey Falter (8-7,4.20 ERA)

Falter is coming off of one of his best starts of his career when he carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday.

It was a needed bounce-back start for Falter, who had a 6.85 ERA in his last five starts dating back to Aug. 11.

The left-hander’s success this season has largely been attributed to his ability to keep the ball in the yard. After allowing 10 homers in 40.1 innings with the Pirates last season, he’s only allowed 15 in 128.2 this season.

Falter took the loss after allowing three runs in four innings in his lone start against St. Louis this season. In four career appearances against them, he’s 1-1 with a 4.08 ERA.

The St. Louis Cardinals Will Send Out RHP Lance Lynn (6-4, 3.96 ERA)

Lynn returned from the injured list on Wednesday and allowed one run and struck out seven in five innings against the Cincinnati Reds.

The 37-year-old had been sidelined since the end of July with right knee inflammation but had a 1.69 ERA over his last three starts prior to getting hurt.

Lynn will primarily rely on his four-seam fastball with a cutter and sinker as his two primary secondary pitches.

The right-hander has faced the Pirates twice this year and combined to allow three runs in 9.1 innings. He’s faced the Pirates more times than any other team in his career and has gone 7-8 with a 5.13 ERA.

Cardinals Hitters vs. Falter

Nolan Arenado: 4 for 8, one double, one triple, one home run, four RBIs, two strikeouts
Paul Goldschmidt: 3 for 6, one double, one strikeout
Masyn Winn: 0 for 6, one RBI, one strikeout
Jordan Walker: 1 for 4, one double, two strikeouts
Alec Burleson: 0 for 3
Lars Nootbaar: 1 for 1, one home run, one RBI

Pirates Hitters vs. Lynn

Andrew McCutchen: 12 for 57, four doubles, two RBIs, one walk, 20 strikeouts
Michael A. Taylor: 5 for 17, one home run, one RBI, one walk, five strikeouts
Rowdy Tellez: 3 for 10, two walks, two strikeouts
Yasmani Grandal: 3 for 9, one home run, one RBI, one walk, one strikeout
Bryan De La Cruz: 1 for 9, two strikeouts

Tidbits

Paul Skenes lowered his season ERA to 2.07. Since making his MLB debut on May 11, no starting pitcher in baseball has a lower mark than that.
Rowdy Tellez struck out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth in Monday’s loss. He’s gone hitless over his last 16 at-bats.
Connor Joe, meanwhile, went 0 for 4 and has also gone hitless over his last 16 at-bats.