Pirates at Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are enjoying a ton of offensive success despite the fact Albert Pujols left the franchise as a free agent. While Pujols is still looking for his first homer with the Los Angeles Angels, the Cardinals are hitting the ball all over the yard and seek to do so again in Wednesday’s contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates. St. Louis scored in double digits for the fifth time this season when they beat Pittsburgh 10-7 on Tuesday.
The Pirates have scored 16 runs over the last two games after failing to score more than five in any of their first 22 games. But Pittsburgh’s defense was atrocious Tuesday and matched a season-worst with four errors. Cardinals third baseman David Freeze has three homers in the last five games and hit a tiebreaking three-run homer Tuesday. St. Louis starter Lance Lynn has been impressive and has allowed only one run in each of his starts, including a victory over Pittsburgh on April 20. Pirates starter A.J. Burnett beat the Cardinals on April 21 when he tossed seven shutout innings.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh), Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH A.J. Burnett (1-1, 1.38 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Lance Lynn (4-0, 1.33)
Burnett has been exceptional for Pittsburgh in his first two outings since returning from a broken orbital bone, stemming from a freak injury during a spring training bunting drill. He held the Cardinals to three hits in his first outing and then allowed two runs and six hits in six innings while losing to the Atlanta Braves. Burnett is 5-3 with a 2.74 ERA in nine career starts against St. Louis.
Lynn has allowed only 16 hits in 27 innings and holding opponents to a .176 average. He has 24 strikeouts against only six walks with an extraordinary WHIP of 0.81. Lynn allowed four hits and one walk in seven innings against the Pirates and followed that up by allowing one run and six hits in eight innings against the Chicago Cubs.
WALK-OFFS
1. Freese has a team-leading 23 RBIs and has 11 hits with runners in scoring position.
2. Pittsburgh outfielder Jose Tabata has hit safely in 23 of 25 games against the Cardinals.
3. St. Louis shortstop Rafael Furcal is batting .324 in 34 career at-bats against Burnett.