Megan: Steve, I'm still shaking my head at that 1-0 masterpiece by Skenes, but last night's 3-0 shutout left a bitter taste. Are the Pirates about to flip the script in St. Louis?
Steve: Megan, they've got the arms to do it, but the bats have gone cold. We're breaking down the Cardinals series tonight, and I've got a bold prediction that might surprise you.
Megan: Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network, Pirates fam! I'm Megan, joined by the one and only Steve. On today's show: the series preview in St. Louis, the pitching probables, key hitters, bullpen questions, and our keys to the series. Stick around!
Megan: Alright, Steve, let's get into it. The Pirates just dropped a 3-0 decision to the Padres, avoiding the sweep but still sitting at 65-70, fourth in the NL Central. Now they head to St. Louis to face the Cardinals. What's your read on that matchup?
Steve: Well, Megan, the Cardinals are always a tough division opponent, but the Pirates have the pitching to make this a low-scoring series. The key is whether the offense can wake up after back-to-back shutout-level performances.
Megan: We saw Paul Skenes absolutely deal on Tuesday—six shutout innings, and Oneil Cruz hitting that first homer off Mason Miller in over a year. That was electric!
Steve: Exactly. Skenes has been the ace we've been waiting for. But last night, Randy Vásquez and the Padres bullpen shut them out. Now they face the Cardinals' staff, and we need to see more consistency from the lineup.
Megan: So who gets the ball in St. Louis? We've got the probable starters from ESPN—what can you tell us?
Steve: The pitching probables haven't been officially announced yet, but based on the rotation, we're likely to see Jared Jones and Bubba Chandler get starts in this series. Both have been solid, but they'll need run support.
Megan: Jones has had his moments, but Chandler has been a breakout star. If those two can keep the Cardinals in check, the Pirates have a chance to steal a series on the road.
Steve: Absolutely. The Cardinals' lineup can be dangerous, especially at home. But if our guys can pitch deep into games, it sets up the bullpen nicely.
Megan: We'll get into the bullpen in a bit, but first, let's talk about the hitters. The bats have been quiet—what's the key to breaking through against St. Louis?
Steve: Plate discipline, Megan. The Cardinals have some young arms that can miss bats, but they also walk guys. If our hitters are patient and work counts, they can get into their bullpen early.
Megan: And we need Bryan Reynolds to lead the charge. He's been the steady presence all season, but he needs help around him.
Steve: Oneil Cruz is the X-factor. When he's locked in, he can carry this lineup. We saw that against Miller. If he gets hot, watch out.
Megan: Alright, let's shift gears to segment two. We'll talk about the bullpen concerns and the injury list, which is getting a little crowded.
Megan: Steve, the bullpen has been a rollercoaster all season. We've got Kirby Yates, Camilo Doval, and Gregory Soto in the back end, but there are some serious concerns.
Steve: Right. The bullpen has been overworked at times, and with Mitch Keller on the 60-day IL, the rotation is stretched. But the guys they've brought in—like Luke Weaver and Mason Montgomery—have been serviceable.
Megan: And we can't forget about the injuries. Samad Taylor, Miguel Andujar, Ryan O'Hearn, Endy Rodriguez—all on the IL. That's a lot of depth missing.
Steve: It's definitely a challenge. But the Pirates have some young guys stepping up. Henry Davis behind the plate has been solid, and Nick Yorke is getting reps at third.
Megan: Let's talk about the Cardinals' hitters. Who do we need to worry about?
Steve: Their lineup can be explosive. We need to keep their big bats in check, especially with runners in scoring position. Pitching to contact and trusting the defense will be key.
Megan: Defensive positioning has been a strength this year. If the outfield can track down those fly balls, it'll save runs.
Steve: Absolutely. And with the ABS challenge system being a hot topic, we've seen teams use it to their advantage. The Pirates have been pretty smart with their challenges.
Megan: Speaking of smart, what about the platoon splits? Are there any matchups that favor the Pirates?
Steve: Well, if the Cardinals throw a lefty, we might see more right-handed bats in the lineup. Guys like Nick Gonzales and Jared Triolo could get the nod. It's all about creating favorable matchups.
Megan: And don't forget about Brandon Lowe. He's been a steady producer at second base, and his experience could be crucial in a tight series.
Steve: For sure. Lowe has been a great addition, and his OBP has been solid. If he can get on base, it sets up the middle of the order.
Megan: Alright, let's wrap up segment two. We've got a lot to cover in the final segment, including our keys to the series and a bold prediction.
Megan: Steve, let's get into the keys to the series. What does Pittsburgh need to do to come out on top in St. Louis?
Steve: First and foremost, they need to get the offense going. We've seen too many games where the pitching gives them a chance, but the bats go quiet. They need to string together quality at-bats and cash in with runners in scoring position.
Megan: And that starts with the top of the lineup. Billy Cook, Jake Mangum, and Bryan Reynolds need to set the table.
Steve: Exactly. And they need to be aggressive on the bases. Steal a bag when the opportunity presents itself. Put pressure on the Cardinals' defense.
Megan: What about the pitching? How do they approach the Cardinals' lineup?
Steve: They need to pitch to their strengths. Use the fastball to set up the offspeed. And most importantly, limit the free passes. Walks have hurt them all season.
Megan: And the bullpen needs to hold the lead if they get one. We've seen too many blown saves this year.
Steve: That's the key. If the starters can go six or seven and hand the ball to Yates with a lead, I like their chances.
Megan: Alright, Steve, time for your bold prediction. What are you thinking for this series?
Steve: I'm going to say the Pirates take two of three from the Cardinals. The pitching will keep them in every game, and I think Oneil Cruz breaks out with a big series—maybe a couple homers.
Megan: Bold! I like it. I'm going to say they get the series win, and the offense scores at least five runs in the finale. If they can do that, they'll be right back in the wild card mix.
Steve: I'll take that. Let's see if Cruz can keep mashing and the bullpen can hold up.
Megan: That's a wrap on our preview. Quick recap: we talked about the pitching probables, the key hitters, bullpen concerns, and our keys to the series. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show, and share it with your fellow Pirates fans. Let's go Bucs!