The Cardinals, 2-1 losers Tuesday, continue a home series Wednesday against the Pirates. First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m.
Right-hander Sonny Gray (7-4, 3.21) will take the mound for the Cardinals.
After a strong start to his Cardinals career, Gray has a 5.46 ERA in his last six starts, allowing four or more earned runs in three of them and only finishing the sixth inning in one.
Gray has struggled with his command and has lost two straight games for the first time with the Cardinals.
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The Pirates' lineup Wednesday contains just one lefty and one switch-hitter despite the fact that left-handers are hitting Gray at a much better clip.
The Pirates will counter with left-hander Bailey Falter (3-3, 3.69).
His last start, in which he allowed five earned runs in four innings to the Dodgers, was one of his worst of the year. Six of his 12 starts this year have been quality.
Falter throws his fastball just more than half of the time, a rarity among MLB starters, and batters are hitting just .180 against it. Foes hit .305 against that pitch last season.
Masyn Winn again leads off for St. Louis, as he's done in eight of his last nine starts. Winn has a .638 OPS as the leadoff man, far lower than his season average of .785.
The Cardinals are 31-34, part of a logjam of NL Central teams that are between 6 1/2 and 7 games behind division-leading Milwaukee.
St. Louis is scoring 3.8 runs per game in its last 11. Only seven MLB teams have scored fewer runs per game in that time.
St. Louis is 4-7 in its last 11 games following a May surge that allowed the Redbirds to reach the .500 mark.
The Pirates are 32-34, one game ahead of the Cardinals and part of that pileup that encompasses all teams in the division with the exception of Milwaukee.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1.Masyn Winn, SS
2.Alec Burleson, DH
3.Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
4.Nolan Arenado, 3B
5. Nolan Gorman, 2B
6.Iván Herrera, C
7.Brendan Donovan, LF
8.Dylan Carlson, RF
9.Michael Siani, CF
P: Sonny Gray, RHP
PIRATES
1. Andrew McCutchen, DH
2. Bryan Reynolds, LF
3. Connor Joe, 1B
4. Oneil Cruz, SS
5. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
6. Nick Gonzales, 2B
7. Edward Olivares, RF
8. Michael A. Taylor, CF
9. Henry Davis, C
P: Bailey Falter, LHP
Injury report
Packy Naughton (flexor tendon surgery):He was activated from the IL and will be available for Class AAA Memphis. Naughton underwent flexor tendon surgery last June and made eight rehab appearances between the Cardinals' Florida Complex League affiliate and Class A Palm Beach.Updated June 11
Giovanny Gallegos (right shoulder impingement):Right-hander threw a scoreless inning Saturday for Class AAA Memphis in Omaha, a day earlier than previously advertised. He will throw one-plus inning Tuesday at Springfield, and a decision on his next move will then be made depending on how he performs and responds physically.Updated June 11
Willson Contreras (fractured arm):Contreras caught a bullpen session Tuesday from Nick Robertson. He also began hitting soft toss Tuesday. Asked about his return, the catcher expects it to be before the calendar turns to July. "I love how eager he is to get back," said manager Oliver Marmol on June 8.Updated June 11
Tommy Edman (wrist surgery):Switch-hitter is taking batting practice from both sides of the plate, and he participated batting practice on the field with teammates for the first time Tuesday. Edman's workout is similar to how his teammates prepare for games with coach-pitch batting practice, and he will advance from these workouts to pitching machine and higher velocities. Internally, the Cardinals are expecting the return of their center fielder around the All-Star break. John Mozeliak, the team's president of baseball operations, told attendees of the Cardinals' annual "Blogger Day" that Edman is expected to return before the end of this month.Updated June 11
Steven Matz (lower back stiffness):The lefty pitched two innings for Class AAA Memphis in Omaha, Nebraska, on Thursday as the first step in a rehab assignment. He'll start Tuesday for Class AA Springfield, and the goal will be 40 pitches or two-to-three innings, whichever comes first. Matz was targeted for 40 to 45 pitches but needed only 24 pitches to get six outs and through two innings.Updated June 11
Keynan Middleton (forearm strain):An update on Middleton's season-ending surgery is available here. He came out of surgery Tuesday, according to manager Oli Marmol.Updated June 11
Riley O'Brien (flexor tendon):After strong bullpen sessions this past week and recovery, O'Brien threw a live batting practice session Tuesday at Class AA Springfield. If that goes well, he could see a rehab assignment within days. Originally on the 15-day injured list retroactive to March 29, O'Brien was moved to the 60-day list on May 10, about two weeks after beginning a throwing progression.Updated June 11
Nick Robertson (elbow inflammation):Robertson completed a low-intensity bullpen session and did not experience any difficult or soreness following the workout. He completed a normal bullpen Saturday at Busch Stadium, and how quickly he advances from there will depend on how he feels Sunday. He experienced a “little tightness” in his elbow during a throwing session in late May.Updated June 8
Tommy Edman (wrist surgery):Switch-hitter is taking batting practice from both sides of the plate, and he participated batting practice on the field with teammates for the first time Tuesday. Edman's workout is similar to how his teammates prepare for games with coach-pitch batting practice, and he will advance from these workouts to pitching machine and higher velocities. Internally, the Cardinals are expecting the return of their center fielder around the All-Star break. John Mozeliak, the team's president of baseball operations, told attendees of the Cardinals' annual "Blogger Day" that Edman is expected to return before the end of this month.Updated June 11
Lars Nootbaar (oblique strain):Outfielder went on the 10-day injured list Friday with a strained oblique. Marmol called the strain "moderate," but the Cardinals are braced for Nootbaar to miss several weeks. It is the second time this season that he is on the injured list and the latest injury comes a few days after the Cardinals proactively gave Nootbaar time off to avoid a hamstring injury.Updated June 5