On Monday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates (71-78, 33-38 away) will face off against the St. Louis Cardinals (74-75, 39-35 home) in the final series of the season. As the week begins, the Cardinals hold a slight 5-4 advantage in their head-to-head matchups. While neither team is in contention for the playoffs, there’s still plenty of pride at stake as they meet at Busch Stadium. The first game is set to start at 7:45 p.m. EST. Which team will claim the early victory?
Pittsburgh’s Rising Star: Pitching Strengths
Despite their overall record, the Pirates have had an intriguing season, largely thanks to the emergence of Paul Skenes. This rookie pitcher has become a key player in the rotation, boasting an impressive 2.10 ERA, a 2.64 FIP, and a 0.992 WHIP. Skenes has only allowed the Cardinals to score two runs in 14.2 innings against them this year. Remarkably, he has not given up more than two earned runs in his last five starts. Given the struggles of Pittsburgh’s bullpen, which ranks 27th in ERA, a strong performance from Skenes will be crucial for the team. Can this young talent continue to dominate against St. Louis?
Offensively, the Pirates have faced challenges this season. They rank 23rd in batting average, 26th in OBP, and 26th in slugging percentage. With an average of 4.21 runs per game, the team isn’t lighting up the scoreboard. However, they do excel in stolen bases, boasting an 85% success rate. Unfortunately, with only 97 total steals, their ranking stands at 17th in the league. This lineup struggles with a low walk rate and high strikeout rate, sitting at 17th and 24th, respectively. It will be interesting to see if they can provide adequate support for their star pitcher.
Key Injuries – Ke’Bryan Hayes (out); Oneil Cruz (out)
St. Louis: Battle for Mediocrity
The St. Louis Cardinals have hovered around the .500 mark for the past month. They will look to maintain this trend with Andre Pallante starting on the mound. Pallante has kept the Pirates to just two runs over 13 innings this season, but he has struggled recently, posting a 7.20 ERA in September. His home ERA of 4.73 also raises concerns. If Pallante falters, the Cardinals will rely on their relievers, who are currently ranked seventh in both ERA and FIP. Will their pitching strategy be effective on Monday?
Offensively, the Cardinals have encountered difficulties this season as well, ranking 25th in runs per game with an average of 4.07. They are 13th in batting average but struggle in slugging percentage, where they sit at 21st. With 86 stolen bases and 153 home runs, their rankings are 20th and 23rd, respectively. Moreover, their walk rate is low at 7.7%, landing them in 22nd place. They will need to find a way to score runs without their starting catcher, who is currently sidelined.
Key Injuries – Willson Contreras (out)
Predictions for Pirates vs. Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals have struggled to produce runs throughout the season. With Paul Skenes on the mound, who previously delivered 6.1 shutout innings in Busch Stadium, the Pirates have a significant advantage. St. Louis is likely to face difficulties at the plate for much of the game.
This scenario opens the door for the Pirates to take control early. Against Andre Pallante, who has allowed 11 hits and eight runs over 10 innings this September, Skenes should lead Pittsburgh to a comfortable win.
