The St. Louis Cardinals are back at PNC Park for the second game of their three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight, and all eyes are on Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore. This guy is rocking a tough 5-14 record with a 5.36 ERA on the season, and it is clear he is looking for a turnaround.
Liberatore’s Recent Outing Shows Promise, But No Decision
Liberatore threw a strong game against the San Francisco Giants on September 16, going six innings and only giving up six hits and one earned run. That is solid, right? But the Cardinals’ bats were totally asleep, trailing 1-0 when he left the game. They clawed back with two runs in the ninth to tie it, but the Giants dropped another two in the tenth. St. Louis could only get one back, so Liberatore ended up with no decision. It has got to be frustrating when you pitch well and the offense cannot back you up.
Two Previous Battles Against the Bucs
This is not Liberatore’s first dance with the Bucs this year. He has faced the Pirates twice already, and the results have been mixed. Back on May 19 at Busch Stadium, he went 4.2 innings, giving up seven hits and four earned runs. The Cardinals eventually snagged that one in a 10-inning thriller, 9-6. Then on August 30, he went 5.2 innings, surrendering six hits and three earned runs, but the Pirates took that game 5-4. You have got to wonder which Liberatore Pittsburgh will see tonight. Across the diamond, Lake Bachar is on the bump for the Pirates, sitting at a 1-4 record with a 3.56 ERA.
Tonight’s matchup at 6:40 p.m. ET is pivotal for both teams looking to grab momentum in this series. Will Liberatore finally get the offensive support he needs? Or will Bachar shut down the Cardinals? It is going to be a battle in Pittsburgh, and you can catch all the action on KDKA AM/FM or Sportsnet Pittsburgh.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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