pittsburgh pirates Looks like they are revisiting their April game now that May is behind them, which will be a good thing for them
They could start June particularly strong if they can beat the tour st louis cardinals for series sweep on sunday
Pittsburgh erased a five-run deficit in a 7–5 win on Friday, then won 4–3 on Saturday. they are kind of game Pirates were winning during a hot april
May was as miserable as April was exhilarating for Pittsburgh – although things began to get back on track with wins in the final two games of May, leading to Pirates Four-game winning streak going into Sunday
“We’re getting our identity back, playing tough baseball,” Pittsburgh outfielder Connor Joe told AT&T Sportsnet after getting a two-run double.
“And then what a job done by the bullpen, to cover so many innings. That’s pirate baseball.”
referring to the fact that Pirates Used eight pitchers in Saturday’s win as starter Luis Ortiz did not return after an hour-long rain delay between the second and third innings
This could affect the Pittsburgh relievers available on Sunday, especially since it is a morning peacock game.
But, hey, it’s June, with a fresh perspective.
Joe said, “It’s great to win four straight. Lots of energy.” It’s good to win a series, but a sweep is great.”
St. Louis has had an almost opposite story, getting off to a surprisingly slow start in April before showing signs of a team that looks to be a National League Central contender in May.
But there seems to be some backsliding happening, as Cardinals four out of five are losers
In the series finale, St. Louis right-hander Miles Mikolas (4-1, 3.75 ERA) was to start opposite Pittsburgh left-hander Rich Hill (4-5, 4.76).
mikolas has taken it upon himself Cardinals‘ stopper, something they could use on Sunday
He has won four consecutive decisions and brings a team-best scoreless streak of 16 innings — dating to May 20 — into Sunday’s game.
On Tuesday, as St. Louis snapped a two-game losing streak, he had a career-best 10 strikeouts over eight scoreless innings in a 2-1 victory over Kansas City.
“I think it’s one of the best feelings in sports when your team needs it most,” Mikolas said. “It’s all my pride, and that’s all I’m here to do — win games. Yeah, I want my stat line to look good, but at the end of the day, if I start the game and we’re in with a win, Let’s finish, I’m so happy.”
Not only has he gone 4–0 with a 2.11 ERA in his last nine starts, but St. Louis has also won his last five starts, seven of his last nine.
Mikolas has faced Pittsburgh more than any other team. He is 5-5 with a 3.06 ERA in 20 games, 17 of them starts.
After a three-game winning streak, Hill has lost two straight starts, most recently on Monday when he gave up six runs and nine hits in six innings against San Francisco.
Hill is 4-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 10 career games, nine of them starts, against Cardinals, they haven’t faced them since 2021
– Field Level Media