Pirates vs. Cardinals
Carlos Beltran broke out of his slump in style and the St. Louis Cardinals look to finish off a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday. Beltran was struggling through a 3-for-32 stretch before going 4-for-5 with two homers and seven RBIs in Wednesday’s 12-3 thrashing of the Pirates. Beltran hadn’t homered since April 18 before hitting two three-run shots. Pittsburgh has allowed 22 runs and committed five errors in the first two games.
The Cardinals have won five of their last six games and lead the National League Central with a 16-8 mark. St. Louis has scored in double digits six times this season. Jon Jay had three hits and takes an 11-game hitting streak into the finale. Pittsburgh is just 5-10 on the road this season and Wednesday’s outcome was one of its few poor-pitched games of the season. Pirates’ starters had allowed two or fewer earned runs in 17 of 23 games before A.J. Burnett was lit up for a career-worst 12 in just 2 2/3 innings.
TV: 1:45 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Erik Bedard (1-4, 2.48 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Jake Westbrook (3-1, 1.30)
Bedard struck out nine in five innings against the Atlanta Braves in his last outing to win for the first time this season. He allowed one run and five hits. Bedard has allowed two or fewer runs in all five of his starts but Pittsburgh scored just three runs in his first four outings. Bedard lost his only previous career start against St. Louis on April 22 when he gave up two earned runs in seven innings.
Westbrook has allowed just four earned run in four starts and his lone loss came against the Pirates when he gave up two runs in 6 2/3 innings on April 21. He defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in his last outing when he gave up one run and seven hits in seven innings. Opposing hitters are batting just .210 against Westbrook. He is 0-4 with a 4.95 ERA in nine career appearances (five starts) against the Pirates.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pittsburgh center fielder Andrew McCutchen was given his first day off of the season on Wednesday despite having a .377 career average in 53 at-bats in St. Louis.
2. Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday is 5-for-11 against Bedard.
3. Pirates corner infielder Casey McGehee is hitless in 13 career at-bats against Westbrook.
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