Megan: Steve, the Pirates just got blanked 3-0 by the Padres, and now they head to St. Louis to face a Cardinals team that's just two games ahead of them in the wild card race. If they don't turn this around now, the season's over.
Steve: It's a big one, Megan. The bats went quiet in San Diego, but this is a new series, a new ballpark, and a chance to make a statement.
Megan: Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network, the number one daily sports podcast. I'm Megan, and as always, I've got my guy Steve with me. On today's show: we're breaking down the three-game set in St. Louis, who's on the mound, who's hurt, and what has to change for the Pirates to steal a series on the road.
Steve: We'll also hit the keys to the series and make a bold prediction. Let's get into it.
Megan: Alright, let's set the table. The Pirates are 65-70, sitting in fourth place in the NL Central. The Cardinals are 67-68, third in the division. So basically, this is a battle of two teams trying to stay alive.
Steve: Exactly. And it's not just about the standings. These are two teams that know each other well. The Pirates took two of three from the Cardinals back in July, but this is a different time of year.
Megan: So who do we expect to see on the mound? We know Paul Skenes is coming off that gem against the Padres, but he's not scheduled for this series, right?
Steve: Right. Skenes threw on Tuesday, so he's not lined up for St. Louis. We're looking at a rotation that includes Bubba Chandler, Jared Jones, and Braxton Ashcraft. These are the young arms the Pirates have been building around.
Megan: Bubba Chandler has been electric at times. What can we expect from him in the opener?
Steve: He's got swing-and-miss stuff, but he's been inconsistent. The key for him is command. If he can throw strikes early, he's tough. The Cardinals have some patient hitters, so he needs to attack the zone.
Megan: And Jared Jones? He's been a workhorse, but he's had some rough outings lately.
Steve: Jones has the stuff to be a frontline starter, but he's been giving up the long ball. Against a lineup like St. Louis, that's a concern. He'll need to keep the ball down and induce ground balls.
Megan: And Ashcraft in the finale? He's been a nice surprise this season.
Steve: Ashcraft has been solid, but he's still learning. The Cardinals are a veteran club, so they'll try to work counts and get him out of the game early. It's a big test for him.
Megan: So the pitching matchups are intriguing, but the offense has to show up. We saw what happened in San Diego – a 3-0 loss where the bats just went silent.
Steve: That's the story of the season, Megan. They're too reliant on the home run, and when they're not hitting them, they're not scoring. They need to manufacture runs, especially on the road.
Megan: We'll get into that more in a minute. But first, let's talk about the bullpen. It's been a rollercoaster all year. Who's been reliable lately?
Steve: Well, we've got Kirby Yates at the back end, and he's been solid. Camilo Doval has had his moments, but he's been inconsistent. The problem is the middle innings – too many leads have slipped away.
Megan: And they're missing some key arms. Joe Musgrove is on the 60-day IL, and Mitch Keller is also on the 60-day. That's a lot of experience out of the rotation and the bullpen.
Steve: It's put a lot of pressure on the younger guys. But they've shown flashes. We need to see more consistency from guys like Gregory Soto and Luke Weaver.
Megan: Alright, let's take a quick break. When we come back, we'll break down the hitters and the injuries that could decide this series. Stick with us.
Megan: Welcome back. Let's talk about the offense. The Pirates have been near the bottom of the league in runs scored, and that's not going to cut it in a playoff push.
Steve: They need their big bats to wake up. Oneil Cruz has been the most dangerous hitter, but he's been streaky. Bryan Reynolds is the steady veteran, but he needs help.
Megan: We saw Cruz hit that go-ahead homer off Mason Miller in the ninth inning on Tuesday – that was a huge moment. But then they couldn't get anything going on Wednesday.
Steve: That's the thing. They're too reliant on the long ball. When they face good pitching, they need to grind out at-bats, work the count, and take what the pitcher gives them. The Cardinals' starters are solid, so they'll have to be patient.
Megan: Who else needs to step up? Brandon Lowe has been a nice addition at second base – he's got pop. And Spencer Horwitz at first has been getting on base.
Steve: Horwitz has a good approach, but he's not a power threat. They need guys like Nick Gonzales and Jared Triolo to contribute. And they're missing some key pieces – Miguel Andujar is on the IL, and Ryan O'Hearn is too.
Megan: O'Hearn has been a big part of the lineup. Losing him hurts. And Endy Rodriguez is also on the IL, so the catching situation is thin.
Steve: Yeah, Henry Davis and Rafael Flores Jr. have been getting the bulk of the work behind the plate. They've been okay defensively, but they haven't provided much offense.
Megan: So what's the biggest concern for the offense in this series?
Steve: It's the inability to score against right-handed pitching. The Cardinals have a lot of righties in their rotation, so the Pirates need to find a way to get to them. They've been too passive at times, and they need to be more aggressive on pitches in the zone.
Megan: And the bullpen – we mentioned it's been shaky. What's the biggest issue there?
Steve: It's the command. Too many walks, too many hittable pitches in key spots. They need to throw strikes and trust their stuff. The Cardinals are a disciplined team, so they'll make you pay for mistakes.
Megan: Alright, let's shift gears and talk about the Cardinals. They've been a bit of a surprise this year – they're not a dominant team, but they're hanging around.
Steve: They're a classic Cardinals team – they play fundamental baseball. They don't strike out much, they move runners, and they have a solid bullpen. They're the kind of team that can beat you in a lot of different ways.
Megan: So what's the key for the Pirates to win this series? We'll get to that in our final segment. But first, let's take a quick look at the standings. The Pirates are 4th in the division, three games behind the Cardinals. A sweep could really shake things up.
Steve: It's a big series, Megan. They can't afford to lose ground. They need to come out with energy and play their brand of baseball.
Megan: We'll be right back with our keys to the series and a bold prediction. Don't go anywhere.
Megan: Alright, we're back. Let's talk keys to the series. Steve, what's the first thing the Pirates have to do to beat the Cardinals?
Steve: They have to get production from the middle of the lineup. Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds are the guys. If they're not hitting, it's going to be tough to score. They need to drive in runs.
Megan: Agreed. And what about the starting pitching? We've got three young arms going. What do they need to do?
Steve: They need to give the team a chance to win. That means pitching into the sixth or seventh inning and keeping the game close. If they can't go deep, the bullpen will be taxed, and that's a recipe for disaster.
Megan: So the bullpen is a factor again. What's the key for them?
Steve: They need to throw strikes and get ahead in counts. The Cardinals are patient, so they'll work the count. If the Pirates can get quick outs, they'll be fine. But if they're walking guys and falling behind, it's going to be a long series.
Megan: Let's talk about the defense. The Pirates have made some costly errors lately. What do they need to clean up?
Steve: They need to make the routine plays. The Cardinals are going to put the ball in play, so the defense has to be sharp. One error can turn a one-run game into a three-run inning.
Megan: And what about the Cardinals' style? They're not a power-hitting team, but they find ways to score. How do you counter that?
Steve: You have to limit the free passes and make them earn it. If you can keep the ball in the park and make them string together hits, you have a chance. The Pirates need to pitch to contact and trust their defense.
Megan: Alright, let's get to our bold predictions. Steve, you're up first.
Steve: I'm going to say the Pirates win the series 2-1. They have the pitching to match up, and I think the offense breaks out in at least one game. I'll say Paul Skenes has a rehab start in the minors and shows he's ready to come back, which gives the team a boost.
Megan: Wait, Skenes is on the roster, right? He's not on the IL. But he's not scheduled for this series. So you're predicting a boost from his presence alone?
Steve: Exactly. Just knowing he's there can lift the team. But my actual prediction is 2-1 series win. I think they take the opener with Bubba Chandler dealing, drop the middle game, and then win the finale in a close one.
Megan: Alright, bold. My prediction: I think the offense scores at least five runs in the series finale. They've been too quiet, and I think they finally break through. I'll say they take two of three as well.
Steve: So we're in agreement on the series, but you're going with the offense exploding. That would be a welcome sight.
Megan: It's time to turn it around. The Pirates have been too inconsistent, but this is the time of year where veterans step up. I'm looking at you, Bryan Reynolds.
Megan: That's all the time we have. To recap: the Pirates head to St. Louis for a crucial three-game series, with young arms on the mound and a lineup that needs to wake up.
Steve: We gave you our keys: get production from the middle of the order, pitch deep, and play clean defense. And our bold predictions: we both see a 2-1 series win, with the offense finally breaking out in the finale.
Megan: Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show. Share it with your fellow Pirates fans and let's get the word out.
Steve: And as always, Let's Go Bucs!
Megan: We'll be back tomorrow with all the highlights from game one. Until then, stay loud, stay proud, and Go Bucs!