Pittsburgh Pirates (71-79) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (75-75)
The 2024 Major League Season unfolds on Wednesday, September 18, featuring an exciting 15-game lineup. This article focuses on the NL Central clash taking place at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, where the Pittsburgh Pirates face off against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Pittsburgh and St. Louis meet for the third game in a four-game series. The Cardinals started strong with a 4-0 victory over the Pirates in the first game, while the outcome of the second game will not be included in this analysis.
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Pirates’ Inconsistent Performance Persists
The Pirates have displayed erratic form throughout the season, and their recent games have not changed that narrative. In their last three series, they swept a three-game matchup against the Marlins, split a four-game series with the Washington Nationals, and managed to win just one out of three against the Kansas City Royals.
Currently, the Pirates’ batting average stands at a dismal .214/.290/.318 with 20 doubles and ten home runs over 485 at-bats this September. Their bullpen has recorded a 3-1 record with six saves, but their ERA of 4.73 and WHIP of 1.48 through 53.1 innings leaves much to be desired.
On Wednesday night, Luis Ortiz, a 25-year-old right-handed pitcher, will take the mound at Busch Stadium. Ortiz’s season record is 6-6, with a 3.45 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 13 starts and 22 relief appearances, totaling 122.2 innings pitched. However, in two starts this month, he has allowed 11 runs (seven earned) on 11 hits and four walks across 9.2 innings.
Ortiz holds an unfortunate 0-2 record with a staggering 14.63 ERA in three career starts against St. Louis. He faced the Cardinals once in 2024, yielding one earned run on three hits in two innings of relief work.
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Cardinals Aim for Consistency
The St. Louis Cardinals improved to a .500 record of 75-75 after outscoring the Pirates 7-4 on Monday night. This victory halted a three-game losing streak, although the team has managed just a 4-6 record over its last ten games. As of Tuesday morning, the Cardinals are seven games behind the final wild card spot in the National League, making it unlikely for them to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
In September, the Cardinals have struggled offensively, hitting .230/.290/.367 with 24 doubles and 14 home runs in 479 at-bats. Their bullpen has performed better, going 5-2 with four saves and posting a 3.05 ERA and 1.13 WHIP through 56 innings of work.
Sonny Gray will take the mound on Wednesday. The 34-year-old right-hander has a strong season record of 13-9, with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP in 27 starts (160.2 IP). He has been particularly effective in his last three outings, allowing just three earned runs on nine hits and three walks over 19 innings.
This will be Gray’s second matchup against Pittsburgh this season. He previously faced them on June 12, securing a 4-2 victory while giving up only one earned run on four hits and one walk in seven innings. Over his career, Gray has a record of 5-4 with a 3.99 ERA in ten starts and one relief appearance against the Pirates.
Best Bets for Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Both teams have faced challenges at the plate recently, leading to a potential advantage for the Cardinals’ pitching staff. Gray’s recent performances have been impressive, and the Cardinals’ bullpen has shown reliability in September. Conversely, Ortiz’s struggles in his last two outings and the Pirates’ bullpen inconsistencies could be detrimental.
The Pirates have recorded a 75 wRC+ and a .618 OPS against right-handed pitchers in the last ten days. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have a lower 69 wRC+ and .600 OPS against the same type of pitchers. The current Cardinals lineup has achieved a 9-for-23 record with three doubles against Ortiz, whereas the Pirates batters are 20-for-86 with eight doubles and two home runs against Gray.
