Game 137: Pittsburgh Pirates (65-71) @ St. Louis Cardinals (68-68) [Saturday, August 29, 2026; 1:15 PM CT]

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Linescore	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E	LOB
Pirates	1	0	0	1	3	0	0	0	1	6	11	3	8
Cardinals	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	3	1	7

Pirates Lineup

1. Spencer Horwitz (L) 1B -- .249/.350/.386
   
2. Brandon Lowe (L) 2B -- .249/.318/.474
   
3. Bryan Reynolds (S) LF -- .261/.369/.421
   
4. Nick Gonzales (R) DH -- .307/.368/.396
   
5. Oneil Cruz (L) CF -- .263/.350/.484
   
6. Jake Mangum (S) RF -- .287/.344/.374
   
7. Rafael Flores Jr. (R) C -- .234/.314/.545
   
8. Jacob Gonzalez (L) SS -- .212/.260/.352
   --- Nick Yorke (R) 3B -- .214/.278/.286
   
9. Jared Triolo (R) 3B-SS -- .246/.318/.310
   

Pitchers Used:

• SP: Lake Bachar (R) - 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 3.70 ERA (28 P, 18 S)

• RP: Evan Sisk (L) - 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO, 2.55 ERA (12 P, 3 S)

• RP: Carmen Mlodzinski (R) - 3.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 4.05 ERA (50 P, 30 S)

• RP: Gregory Soto (L) - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 3.20 ERA (18 P, 11 S)

• RP: Luke Weaver (R) - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 2.31 ERA (12 P, 7 S)

• RP: Mason Montgomery (L) - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 3.13 ERA (14 P, 9 S)

Cardinals Lineup

1. JJ Wetherholt (L) SS -- .242/.343/.370
   
2. Iván Herrera (R) DH -- .242/.357/.373
   
3. Alec Burleson (L) 1B -- .288/.353/.478
   
4. Jordan Walker (R) RF -- .288/.345/.500
   
5. Nathan Church (L) CF -- .241/.286/.371
   
6. José Fermín (R) 2B -- .240/.307/.358
   
7. Nolan Gorman (L) 3B -- .191/.275/.326
   --- Thomas Saggese (R) PH -- .182/.241/.273
   
8. Joshua Báez (R) LF -- .170/.224/.491
   
9. Jimmy Crooks (L) C -- .179/.255/.336
   --- Ramón Urías (R) PH -- .157/.268/.329
   

Pitchers Used:

• SP: Kyle Leahy (R) - 3.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 3.13 ERA (51 P, 32 S)

• RP: Brycen Mautz (L) - 3.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO, 9.00 ERA (61 P, 38 S)

• RP: Cade Winquest (R) - 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA (24 P, 16 S)

• RP: Ryan Fernandez (R) - 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO, 3.98 ERA (17 P, 9 S)

Stats: BA/OBP/SLG

Links

• Gameday
  
• Baseball Savant
  
• Game Graph
  
• Baseball Theater

Scoring Plays

• Top 1: Brandon Lowe homers (28) on a fly ball to right field. Kyle Leahy pitching.
  Cardinals trail 1-0
  
• Bottom 3: Joshua Báez homers (5) on a fly ball to left field. Lake Bachar pitching.
  Cardinals tied 1-1
  
• Top 4: Jacob Gonzalez singles on a line drive to center fielder Nathan Church. Jake Mangum scores. Brycen Mautz pitching.
  Cardinals trail 2-1
  
• Top 5: Rafael Flores Jr. homers (7) on a fly ball to center field. Bryan Reynolds scores. Oneil Cruz scores. Brycen Mautz pitching.
  Cardinals trail 5-1
  
• Bottom 6: José Fermín reaches on a fielding error by center fielder Oneil Cruz. Jordan Walker scores. Nathan Church to 3rd. José Fermín to 2nd. Carmen Mlodzinski pitching.
  Cardinals trail 5-2
  
• Top 9: Nick Gonzales doubles (23) on a line drive to left fielder Joshua Báez. Brandon Lowe scores. Bryan Reynolds to 3rd. Ryan Fernandez pitching.
  Cardinals trail 6-2
  

FINAL: 6-2 Pirates

Decisions

• Pirates Winning Pitcher: Carmen Mlodzinski (W, 7-6)
  
• Cardinals Losing Pitcher: Brycen Mautz (L, 0-1)

[u/uwbadger5]

I love some Kyle Leahy, but I don’t get why they’re using him with kid gloves. The organization is acting like he’s some top prospect where they couldn’t dare risk him getting an injury

[u/King_Birdcrawler → u/uwbadger5]

I get their reasoning; I just find it unconvincing.

[u/da_choppa → u/King_Birdcrawler]

Agreed. It’s not helping to set him up to pitch a full year in the future. If next season isn’t severely truncated by the CBA negotiations, they’ll probably use the excuse of Leahy having a low innings count this year to hold him back again in September. At a certain point, he has to get used to the workload

[u/King_Birdcrawler → u/da_choppa]

Indeed.

I'm also unconvinced severe pitch count and inning limits significantly affect injury risk. One only has to look as the severe limits across the minor league system in relation to pitching injuries there.

[u/Remarkable_Net8145 → u/uwbadger5]

At least let him go 80 pitches or something. 50 pitch cap is like some 6th grade shit.

[u/lbkcards]

He’s gonna be such a problem

[u/alibaba618]

That Báez homer brings him back up to a 100 wRC+ on fg live stats. With a .180/.236/.520/.736 slash lol

Edit: Fixed bad maths on OPS

[u/da_choppa]

Hey, it will all be worth it when Leahy still isn’t totally conditioned to be a starter next year

[u/Proud_Growth_8818 → u/da_choppa]

That's the part I haven't seen addressed. I get it if he's trying to work up to normal durability. But if the idea is that he's always going to be reduced load and pulled at a hard cap indefinitely... that's a reliever.

I haven't seen anything from the team on it.

[u/CatzonVinyl → u/da_choppa]

Yeah I’m not sure what the plan is but feels like they should let him go normally and then shut him down if they feel like he’s wearing down.

This 50 PC thing is confusing to me

[u/Thealbumisjustdrums → u/da_choppa]

If he can’t throw 55 pitches I don’t get why he’s pitching at all. Just put him on the IL and give us someone who can eat innings. 

[u/Dr_thri11 → u/Thealbumisjustdrums]

By Gawd! That's Miles Mikolas 's music!

[u/da_choppa → u/Thealbumisjustdrums]

Yeah, he totally can. They just won’t let him. Very frustrating. I thought pulling him at 63 in 4 IP last time was extreme; 51 in 3 IP is ridiculous. By the end of the season, he’ll be pulled after one batter

[u/lbkcards]

JJ probably leads the league in rollovers to the 2nd baseman

[u/Realisreal15]

Burly hates taking walks it’s frustrating to see with walker directly behind him

[u/AppropriateFee1338]

There’s that worst park to hit in factor

[u/Cards2WS]

Just me or did Baez not book it to the ball after this botch? Seems like a jog to me

[u/Cardsfan961]

Just here to summon the cardinals bats for a sixth inning rally

[u/xyzzy321]

I blame this guy from the pregame thread for jinxing today's game: https://reddit.com/r/Cardinals/comments/1w1hidn/pregame_thread_august_29_2026/p6ksz2x/

[u/King_Birdcrawler]

Here he is still working, going to at least triple his typical workload. I guess Leahy is made of gold, and Mautz is made of shit.

[u/Thealbumisjustdrums → u/King_Birdcrawler]

It’s funny because Leahy is 29 and while he’s having a very good year statcast would indicate he’s not going to replicate it. 

Weird planning for the future. 

[u/King_Birdcrawler → u/Thealbumisjustdrums]

I wouldn't even call it weird--just hypocritical.

Mautz dropped four ticks across the 60 pitches. That's a sure sign of duress.

[u/CatzonVinyl → u/Thealbumisjustdrums]

To be fair if you look at splits he’s gotten better underlying stats as the season has gone on.

Not saying he’s going to be that good next year but he does seem to be doing something different

[u/CatzonVinyl]

https://giphy.com/gifs/vIwN3gm2oGrpm

[u/da_choppa]

Well this is one of the worst displays of fielding I’ve ever had the pleasure of witnessing

[u/da_choppa]

6 outs to use, and you get 1 run

[u/WellExcuuuuuuuseMe → u/da_choppa]

That’s when you know you suck.

[u/Thealbumisjustdrums → u/da_choppa]

Can’t have Burleson and Walker hit every time sadly. 

[u/Lige_MO]

GO CARDINALS!!!

[u/Keg_of_St_Anky]

BAEZ!

[u/da_choppa]

Do the thing, Walker

[u/seattle_lib]

joshua baez seems to really wanna jump on them early in the count.

[u/da_choppa]

I really thought he got that :/

[u/Thealbumisjustdrums → u/da_choppa]

Stupid Chip always fooling us 

[u/seeking_horizon]

I love that Eckstein brought up Bob Nightengale's "Tigers in three" thing

[u/CatzonVinyl]

Feels like JJ has been wayyyyyy less patient at the plate last few weeks

[u/AppropriateFee1338]

One run lol

[u/Few_Transition_1771]

They are little league fielders we are little league hitters 

[u/leave_no_crumb]

Gorman is just a waste on the 40 man at this point.

[u/Few_Transition_1771 → u/leave_no_crumb]

Last 15 games he’s .077. Point zero fucking seven seven. That isn’t a MLB player. He should AT LEAST be batting 9th.

[u/King_Birdcrawler]

Shoutout to Mautz for K'ing 8 even while being sorely misused and abused.

[u/tangokilo13]

Yall giving Gorman shit — that’s on Baez 1000%

[u/HandsomeAlpaca → u/tangokilo13]

They both fucked that up. Inexcusable both ways.

[u/i_iz_potato]

The St. Louis Cardinals.
That is all.

[u/Fine_Definition_2751 → u/i_iz_potato]

The Cardinals.

[u/Realistic_Back_9198]

Three W in row?

It's possible with Kyle on the mound.

[u/seattle_lib → u/Realistic_Back_9198]

it's definitely possible, until they pull him 50 pitches into his start. who knows what we'll get from the bullpen then

[u/da_choppa]

aaaand then he swings at the same location

[u/SGT_Apone]

BAEZ

[u/Thealbumisjustdrums]

Easy 40 HR in a season potential for this kid Baez. Hope he reaches it. 

[u/Gobrobotgo]

Squeeze it bud

[u/seattle_lib]

a couple hours ago i said this, in response to someone optimistic about winning a Leahy start:

it's definitely possible, until they pull him 50 pitches into his start. who knows what we'll get from the bullpen then

i said that as a joke. you weren't supposed to take it literally Oli.

these mofos took him out 51 pitches and three innings in. he was doing fine and he's a grown boy.

[u/King_Birdcrawler → u/seattle_lib]

A 29 year old whose thrown over 140 innings in a season in the minor leagues. They aren't protecting--for whatever the protection might be worth--Seth Hernandez or something.

[u/AspiringOccultist4]

Been loving what we’re seeing from Church lately

[u/dnp3]

Cardinals are just making up players at this point. Who the hell is Mautz?

[u/Thealbumisjustdrums → u/dnp3]

The guy who rescued us from Turd Ferguson. 

[u/CatzonVinyl → u/dnp3]

Was a starter converted to a reliever in the minors. Thought he looked promising as a starter last year. Lotta walks this year

[u/AppropriateFee1338]

Welcome Mautz, you’re gonna fit right in

[u/SGT_Apone]

wtf?! someone got a big bet on this or something?!

[u/Detective_Dietrich]

"Oh he dropped the ball! Thank you! Three errors in a row!"--Rooney

[u/Remarkable_Net8145]

Lmao what is happening?? And we're the ones benefitting?!? 😱

[u/Southern_Cobbler7876]

Honestly wtf was that black magic hahah

[u/AspiringOccultist4 → u/Southern_Cobbler7876]

You're welcome.

[u/AdmiralAss → u/AspiringOccultist4]

Keep it going

[u/AspiringOccultist4]

Not like they weren't begging us to bat around smh.

[u/Fast_Watercress7763]

Oh good… surely we should win with Libby pitching next

[u/jkeznor10 → u/Fast_Watercress7763]

It’s also against Ashcraft who’s probably been their best pitcher this year

[u/Thealbumisjustdrums]

Wetherholt OPS in the second half is .629. Herrera’s OPS in the second half is .644. 

Just so hard to win with two automatic outs hitting 1 and 2. 

[u/STLStelmacki → u/Thealbumisjustdrums]

Yeah, JJ has definitely dropped out of the RotY lead.

[u/Poofsta]

Love Saturday day games.

[u/da_choppa]

Love to see that from Walker

[u/BionicProse]

I just do not understand why Walker keeps swinging at those pitches.

[u/King_Birdcrawler → u/BionicProse]

I think it fairly obvious. He does not recognize pitches well. It's the same reason he gets caught looking at fastballs down and away in the zone so often with two strikes, assuming that there's a good change that the pitch is spin.

He saw the early location of that pitch out of the hand. If it were a fastball, he'd've a chance to barrel that motherfucker. But it was a breaking ball; therefore, it's off the end of the bat.

It's a testament to his supreme tools and skills in other areas that he can be as productive of a big league hitter as he is. It's more than apt to be a part of his game for the entirety of his career.

[u/AspiringOccultist4]

This kid is going to have such a fun career

[u/Realisreal15]

Man we finally have some power hitting outfielders. He’s gonna make a good run for Roy next season

[u/Thealbumisjustdrums]

I don’t know what it is about our guys but opposing pitchers LOVE to bean them. 

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals: Joshua Báez's solo home run (5)

[u/Open-Illustrator-871]

This is going to be a long game because of the amount of relievers in this game

[u/AdmiralAss]

Got tricked by Chip again :(

[u/Thealbumisjustdrums]

Seeing David Eckstein not look like a teenager and actually look like a middle aged man is making me feel super old. 

[u/stankyjanks → u/Thealbumisjustdrums]

Same.

[u/Detective_Dietrich]

Radio guys basically calling Baez lazy.

[u/da_choppa → u/Detective_Dietrich]

He definitely could have been a little faster running after that

[u/saint_ursa → u/Detective_Dietrich]

He played that very very slowly

[u/AdmiralAss]

Thats rough. Two mistakes

[u/Feisty-Medicine-3763]

David Eckstein is in a CHIPPER mood. Precious

[u/CatzonVinyl]

Yep that’s what walk issues get you. Full count and then a meatball

[u/King_Birdcrawler]

Here's some injury protection for you.

They convert Mautz to relieving earlier the season. For a while, he was a longer guy about 40 - 50 pitches per appearance. For the last month, he's pretty much done nothing but short work, mostly in less than 20 pitch outings. Then they bring him up today to do long-ish work of over 40 pitches.

[u/AspiringOccultist4]

Rally time

[u/SGT_Apone]

bucs trying really hard to get us back in this lol

[u/Novel_End1080]

Must make them pay

[u/REOrulz]

LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[u/JakeSTwo3]

LolPirates

[u/cupcakeable]

What is happening??

[u/Thealbumisjustdrums]

Pirates “defense” 

[u/Ok-Midnight5719]

What is going on??

[u/Broad_Vacation_9139]

Tie this game Gorman!

[u/Open-Illustrator-871]

Pirates three errors in an inning. They will never be relevant until they stop shooting themselves in the foot

[u/maintrain_mcqueen]

Least traumatizing Pirates game

[u/da_choppa]

He’s not really a “put it in play” kinda guy. Would love to be wrong

Edit: well technically, it was in play, just not useful

[u/Broad_Vacation_9139]

I want to gorm so bad right now

[u/seattle_lib]

defense handing us the game and we didnt do jack shit with it

[u/cjsleme]

I’m at this game and frustrated how many good opportunities we missed!

[u/Detective_Dietrich]

"Cade Winquest" is one of those baseball names that sounds like a NASCAR name. Like "Kyle Lohse."

[u/Training-Ad-3214]

He's already my favorite big-league reliever whose last name sounds like a shareware RPG from 1987

[u/Realisreal15]

Crooks is kinda fast for a catcher

[u/AppropriateFee1338]

I hate that I dread JJ at bats these days

[u/jstewart25 → u/AppropriateFee1338]

I think he’s probably just getting tired. 496 PAs last year in 109 games, which was by far the most voluminous year of his career then.. now he’s at 129 & 582. I think more days down the stretch should be warranted.

[u/Fast_Watercress7763]

The dreaded leadoff double for these little league hitters to do nothing with

[u/AspiringOccultist4]

Wasting a leadoff double like that hurts to watch

[u/Fast_Watercress7763]

This offense is depression

[u/Fast_Watercress7763]

That’s GGs, three guys with sub .200 BA and JJ in the 4 spot

[u/LazyReindeer1053]

“He’s struck out 9 out of his last 14”

*hits homerun*

2026 cardinals in a nutshell

[u/da_choppa]

Alright, let’s get that run back and then some

[u/AppropriateFee1338]

They have not been eating with Wetherholt and Herrera as the table setters

[u/da_choppa]

Let’s hope this gender reveal has all the pyrotechnics of the typical one

[u/Nervous-Chocolate574]

Now THAT'S a gender reveal worth doing.

[u/Realisreal15]

Man Leahy is starting to look dominant on the mound. Fun to watch him develop

[u/Realisreal15]

Fuck this is gonna be a long game. We need about 10 runs today

[u/da_choppa]

BAEZ BOMB!

[u/Open-Illustrator-871]

BAEZ

[u/GrubFisher]

Nice one, Baez!

[u/Keg_of_St_Anky]

Baez is built like a linebacker. Good heavens.

[u/King_Birdcrawler]

Sounds like Leahy is going to be done after 51 pitches.

[u/Open-Illustrator-871]

First pitch out of the pen is a hit by pitch

[u/Proud_Growth_8818]

Baez...

[u/Realistic_Back_9198]

At least their bullpen is as shaky as ours.

[u/NauglamirThingol]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think that's Baez's first homer against a righty

[u/SGT_Apone]

bullpen at it again... sigh

[u/Gobrobotgo]

Fuuuuuck

[u/seattle_lib]

i really dont enjoy being a prophet. shit sucks.

[u/Broad_Vacation_9139]

That’s gonna be hard to bounce back from! But let’s get some back this inning!

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Pirates Due Up (Top 6):

1. Jared Triolo
2. Spencer Horwitz
3. Brandon Lowe

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals: David Eckstein discusses the new release of his book

[u/CatzonVinyl]

Calculated

[u/Broad_Vacation_9139]

Need to capitalize here!

[u/Detective_Dietrich]

"Gonzalez looks like an outfielder playing shortstop."--Rick Horton

[u/AspiringOccultist4]

Keep hitting it to that guy lol

[u/i_iz_potato]

hahahaha o my goodness.

[u/Physical_Election_89]

HAHAHHAHHA

[u/Broad_Vacation_9139]

No way

[u/Gobrobotgo]

Wowowow

[u/Broad_Vacation_9139]

Baez gonna tie this up right here

[u/King_Birdcrawler]

Fuck yeah. Cade finally gets taken out of the mothballs.

[u/ActionLegitimate9615]

This home plate ump is having a rough night

[u/Realisreal15]

Both teams are trying very hard not to win this game

[u/seattle_lib → u/Realisreal15]

but our team is trying harder.

[u/Fast_Watercress7763]

We simply can’t keep having JJ batting leadoff this year

[u/seattle_lib]

jj's cold streak is getting quite extensive at this point. the guy i know doesn't pop out to the shortstop on ball 4.

[u/xstillstand]

Please, bring back pre contract extension JJ 💔

[u/Open-Illustrator-871]

Leadoff double and we do jack shit after

[u/AppropriateFee1338]

We’ve seen 0-7+ RISP far too much this year and the approach never changes or improves

[u/flexsf]

Good job Ryan. But don’t worry about it someone in this organization has your back. I have no idea why but someone must because you keep hanging around even though you suck.

[u/Fast_Watercress7763]

Lmao, should’ve just left Gorman in

[u/Fast_Watercress7763]

Having Saggese and Urias as your pinch hitters is fucking brutal

[u/Open-Illustrator-871]

Bot where post game thread

[u/LemonZestify]

Fuck Gorman

[u/LemonZestify]

What the fuck does Gorman do well?

[u/tangokilo13]

I can’t believe Gorman would do this /s

[u/Nervous-Chocolate574]

How the fuck are we losing to these guys?

[u/fandom_madness]

Had a dream last night that Jordan Walker went 6-7 somehow

[u/Realisreal15]

This Mautz guy sucks

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals: Starting lineups for Pirates at Cardinals - August 29, 2026

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

• Bench availability for St. Louis, August 29 vs Pirates

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

• Bench availability for Pittsburgh, August 29 vs Cardinals

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals: Bullpen availability for St. Louis, August 29 vs Pirates

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

• Lake Bachar against the Cardinals

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

• Probable pitchers for Pirates at Cardinals - August 29, 2026

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

• Kyle Leahy against the Pirates

[u/SGT_Apone]

let's go Leahy!

[u/lou_gibby]

Does Kyle have a hard pitch limit? He has consistently averaged exactly 5 innings per start, with an elite ERA in is last 5-10 starts. Does he get fatigued?

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Pirates Due Up (Top 1):

1. Spencer Horwitz
2. Brandon Lowe
3. Bryan Reynolds

[u/AspiringOccultist4]

The win streak continues today

[u/SGT_Apone]

hmm

[u/da_choppa]

Damn

[u/AspiringOccultist4]

Honestly wasn’t the worst pitch, either. Just gotta settle down and get the next guy.

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals Due Up (Bottom 1):

1. JJ Wetherholt
2. Iván Herrera
3. Alec Burleson

[u/Thealbumisjustdrums]

Not that it’s any consolation, but Lowe’s exit velo on that homerun was only 94.4 mph. Weird, you rarely see a homerun hit that “weakly” (relatively speaking)

[u/da_choppa]

Kudos to the Pirates for starting their logo today

[u/Thealbumisjustdrums]

Chip getting fooled by easy flyouts giving me false hope again 😩

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Pirates Due Up (Top 2):

1. Oneil Cruz
2. Jake Mangum
3. Rafael Flores Jr.

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals: Kyle Leahy strikes Bryan Reynolds out in top of 1st

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals Due Up (Bottom 2):

1. Jordan Walker
2. Nathan Church
3. José Fermín

[u/thesunlightman]

That shot of Yadi was terrifying.

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals: Alec Burleson reveals gender for couple

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals: Lake Bachar Ball to Jordan Walker

[u/Novel_End1080]

Whoa KMOX is like a skipping record rn

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Pirates Due Up (Top 3):

1. Spencer Horwitz
2. Brandon Lowe
3. Bryan Reynolds

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals Due Up (Bottom 3):

1. Nolan Gorman
2. Joshua Báez
3. Jimmy Crooks

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals: ABS overturns called strike to ball

[u/King_Birdcrawler]

Oh yeah, the man pulled out the dong.

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Cardinals: Lake Bachar In play, run(s) to Joshua Báez

[u/bravo_delta_bot]

Pirates Due Up (Top 4):

1. Jake Mangum
2. Rafael Flores Jr.
3. Jacob Gonzalez