The Cardinals continue a four-game home series Wednesday against the Pirates. First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m.
St. Louis has won the first two. The Cardinals held on Tuesday after blanking the Pirates in Monday's opener.
Right-hander Sonny Gray (13-9, 3.75) will take the mound Wednesday for the Cardinals.
Gray has put up quality starts in each of his last three outings and expressed optimism after his last start that he was on the verge of being "really good."
He's holding opponents to a .136 batting average against in that three-game span.
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The Pirates will counter with right-hander and former Cardinal Jake Woodford (0-6, 8.01).
Woodford appeared in 80 games for the Cardinals from 2020-23. He was non-tendered by the Cardinals in November, which made him a free agent. Woodford made two starts with the White Sox before being designated for assignment and picked up by Pittsburgh.
Woodford is 0-4 with a 6.95 ERA in six games, four of them starts, with Pittsburgh this year. He's being called up from Triple-A to join the Pirates.
Before the game, the Cardinals placed pitcher Lance Lynn (right knee inflammation) on the 15-day injured list and recalled pitcher Michael McGreevy recalled from Triple-A Memphis. The moves ends Lynn's season.
The Cardinals are 76-75, third in the NL Central and seven games out of the final wild-card spot. St. Louis is mathematically eliminated from catching division-leading Milwaukee.
The Pirates are 71-80, last in the NL Central and 16-27 since the start of August.
Pittsburgh's Oneil Cruz remains out with an ankle injury suffered in the Bucs' previous series. Cruz made a pinch-hit appearance Tuesday but has not been in the starting lineup yet this series.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Masyn Winn, SS
2. Alec Burleson, DH
3. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
4. Nolan Arenado, 3B
5. Brendan Donovan, 2B
6. Iván Herrera, C
7. Lars Nootbaar, LF
8. Jordan Walker, RF
9. Michael Siani, CF
P: Sonny Gray, RHP
PIRATES
1. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, SS
2. Bryan Reynolds, LF
3. Joey Bart, C
4. Andrew McCutchen, DH
5. Nick Gonzales, 2B
6. Bryan De La Cruz, RF
7. Nick Yorke, 3B
8. Jared Triolo, 1B
9. Billy Cook, CF
P: Jake Woodford, RHP
Injury report
Willson Contreras (fractured finger):Ěý°Őłó±đ catcher fractured the middle finger on his right hand when struck by a pitch Aug. 24, and his season is effectively over following an exam Monday with team medical officials. He was prescribed another two weeks of inactivity to continue the healing process, and that assures he will not be able to play during the regular season, which ends when September does. Updated Sept. 17
Lance Lynn (right knee inflammation):Ěý°Őłó±đ veteran's season came to an end Wednesday, a day after he pitched six strong innings to pick up a win over Pittsburgh and remain unbeaten at Busch since July 2017. His contract has a $12-million option for 2025, though factors are stacking up that would lead the Cardinals to decline it. Updated Sept. 18