Pirates at Cardinals
After failing to cut into first-place Milwaukee's lead in the National League Central, the St. Louis Cardinals square off with division rival Pittsburgh as they host the Pirates on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series. St. Louis won two of three at Pittsburgh last weekend before dropping two of three to the Brewers to close out a road trip.
Wednesday's 3-2 loss to Milwaukee dropped the Cardinals five games behind the Brewers but they are hitting a favorable portion of the schedule with 13 of the next 16 at home. Dexter Fowler collected three hits in his return from a three-game injury absence while center fielder Harrison Bader homered for the second time in as many days in Milwaukee to run his hitting streak to five games. The Pirates dropped the final two to the Cardinals last week and saw their losing streak stretch to four games before averting a sweep with a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday for their third win in 12 games. "There's a lot of people who want to win," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle told reporters. "You've got to play to win. You've got to figure out how to win."
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, FS Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Trevor Williams (5-3, 3.43 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Jack Flaherty (2-1, 2.15)
Williams suffered the loss versus the Cardinals last Saturday after giving up four runs and seven hits over a season-low four innings. It marked the third time in four starts that he permitted four runs, although the 26-year-old beat the Cardinals on April 28 with six innings of two-run ball. Williams has had trouble against both Jose Martinez (5-for-8) and Matt Carpenter, who is 4-for-10 with two homers.
Flaherty got the best of Pittsburgh last weekend, winning his second straight start by limiting the Pirates to one run and four hits over six innings. The 2014 first-round draft pick had the best performance of his brief major-league career in his previous turn, striking out 13 and allowing one run on two hits over 7 2/3 innings to beat Philadelphia. Starling Marte is 3-for-5 with a home run against Flaherty.
WALK-OFFS
1. Carpenter was 5-for-13 last weekend against Pittsburgh and has hit safely in six in a row.
2. Pirates RF Gregory Polanco returned to the lineup Wednesday but is 0-for-19 in his last six games.
3. Cardinals C Yadier Molina, who had surgery (traumatic hematoma) earlier this month, has been cleared to resume baseball activities.