Cards try to collect themselves vs. Pirates
Irrespective of numerous injuries, the Pirates are above .500 for the first time since mid-June. Can they snag a six straight triumph in a matter of hours?
Clint Hurdle’s club must vanquish a familiar enemy, Mike Leake, in order to make that happen. Pittsburgh and St. Louis collide at 8:09 p.m. ET, with handicappers at online sports book Bovada.lv leaning toward the team that calls Busch Stadium home. The visiting Buccos, on the other hand, represent +134 underdogs.
Leake (5-6, 4.13) has enjoyed no shortage of career success against the men from the Steel City. In 26 starts vs. the Pirates, the veteran righty is 9-4 with a 3.13 ERA. He ended June on somewhat of a clunker, though, yielding three runs over seven innings of a 4-2 defeat to the Royals.
As for Pittsburgh’s hurler tonight, well, minimal details exist. Steven Brault receives the nod in place of the injured Jameson Taillon (shoulder fatigue). The lefty went 2-3 with a 3.00 in eight outings at Triple-A Indianapolis, striking out 49 across 39 frames.
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St. Louis’ well-documented struggles with inexperienced southpaws could resurface yet again, but Brault’s a guy who reportedly relies on pinpoint control to dissect opposing batters. The nerves promise to be palpable in his first MLB appearance, and the Cards have designs on taking full advantage of that element. Ride with the red-hot Matt Carpenter (six hits in 12 July at-bats) and his friends to avenge yesterday’s 4-2 loss.
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