9-16-24 – Ethan Smith– @mvp_EtHaN
The 2024 season is coming to a close, which means the last stretch of divisional matchups for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pittsburgh heads on the road to begin this final stretch, beginning with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Pittsburgh enters this series 4-5 versus St. Louis this year, winning the most recent series 2-1 over the Cardinals in July.
Neither team has scored seven or more runs in the nine games between the NL Central rivals, with the last series featuring 11 combined runs scored over the three games.
St. Louis still has an outside shot at the postseason, although it is very unlikely, with the Cardinals sitting 7.0 GB of the Braves and Mets, who are currently tied for the final NL Wild Card spot. The Pirates are 10.0 GB and although not mathematically eliminated, the likelihood is low for a Pirates postseason berth.
A Pirates series win over the next four days would virtually knock the Cardinals out of any postseason contention and would also give the Pirates the season series win over St. Louis if they can win three of the next four.
The series begins at 7:45pm ET tonight.
9/16
Cardinals – Andre Pallante (R) – 6-8, 102.1 IP, 4.13 ERA, 77 Ks/45 walks, 1.40 WHIP
Pirates – Paul Skenes (R) – 10-2, 120.0 IP, 2.10 ERA, 151 Ks/31 walks, 0.99 WHIP
9/17
Cardinals – Lance Lynn (R) – 6-4, 111.1 IP, 3.96 ERA, 104 Ks/42 walks, 1.36 WHIP
Pirates – Bailey Falter (L) – 8-7, 128.2 IP, 4.20 ERA, 89 Ks/39 walks, 1.27 WHIP
9/18
Cardinals – Sonny Gray (R) – 13-9, 162.0 IP, 3.75 ERA, 195 Ks/39 walks, 1.07 WHIP
Pirates – Luis Ortiz (R) – 6-6, 122.2 IP, 3.45 ERA, 95 Ks/39 walks, 1.13 WHIP
9/19
Cardinals – Erick Fedde (R) – 8-9, 164.1 IP, 3.45 ERA, 141 Ks/50 walks, 1.18 WHIP
Pirates – Mitch Keller (R) – 11-10, 169.2 IP, 3.87 ERA, 159 Ks/43 walks, 1.25 WHIP
Cardinals: Paul Goldschmidt
Paul Goldschmidt would like to have had a better 2024 campaign, a campaign in which he’s slashed .246/.303/.414 with 21 home runs and 59 RBIs.
In September, Goldschmidt has played good baseball, slashing .313/.340/.521 with one home run and four RBIs along with seven doubles and a .861 OPS.
Goldschmidt has played worse at home, by evidence of his .664 OPS at Busch Stadium versus a .764 OPS on the road, but his recent play suggests a potentially strong series versus Pittsburgh over the next four days.
Pirates: Jared Triolo
Jared Triolo continues to get opportunities, and in September, he’s taken advantage of those opportunities at the plate, slashing .286/.375/.452 with two home runs and seven RBIs and eight runs scored.
His .622 OPS is a number he’d love to see increase, and his 2024 season doesn’t suggest his bat skills took a step forward, but rather a step back as all of his slash numbers decreased from 2023 to 2024, but a strong September has given the Pirates another weapon in the lineup.
Triolo is 1-for-7 versus St. Louis this season, and if his recent play is any indicator, he could have a strong series this week versus the Red Birds.
Cardinals: Masyn Winn
Masyn Winn has had a dreadful September, slashing .160/.192/.280 with four extra-base hits in 50 at-bats.
Winn is 4-for-18 in the last seven days and 11-for-37 versus Pittsburgh this season.
The young shortstop is much better at home, with a .789 OPS at home versus a .664 OPS on the road, and with his success versus Pittsburgh this year, he’ll look to end his cold spell in September.
Pirates: Bryan De La Cruz
Bryan De La Cruz has been a disappoint after being traded from Miami to Pittsburgh, hitting .205 in August and now .167 in September.
Over the past 30 days, De La Cruz is slashing .205/.222/.308, so offensively, his struggles have been well documented.
The long ball hasn’t come along with De La Cruz either upon his arrival to Pittsburgh, having just one home run as a Pittsburgh Pirate.
De La Cruz will look to have a strong ending to his 2024 campaign over the next two weeks, beginning with a series versus St. Louis that features four right-handed starters, which De La Cruz is hitting .213 against in 2024.
Key Injuries
Cardinals:
Pitcher Tink Hence is day-to-day, while catcher Wilson Contreras in on the 10-day IL and will likely miss the entirety of this series. Pitchers Drew Rom and Keynan Middleton are on the 60-day IL and likely out for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Pirates:
Oneil Cruz is listed as day-to-day, while Henry Davis is on the 10-day IL and could return for this series. Pitcher Ben Heller is on the 15-day IL, while all other injuries are out for the remainder of 2024.
Team Notes
The Pirates are coming off of a series loss to the Kansas City Royals, salvaging a win in the series with a victory on Sunday.
St. Louis comes back home to Busch Stadium after being swept by the Toronto Blue Jays, losing two of three by one run.
The Cardinals are 39-35 at home this season, while Pittsburgh is 33-38 on the road.
Pittsburgh is 24-13 in games in which they hit two or more home runs.
The Cardinals are 4-6 in their last 10 games, while the Pirates are 6-4.
Let’s Go Bucs!
