Cardinals at Pirates
The St. Louis Cardinals have experienced no shortage of drama over the last week, and they really pushed the envelope in that regard Monday in order to improve to 8-3 since the All-Star break. The Cardinals look to extend their second-half surge a little bit longer Tuesday with the second of four games in Pittsburgh against the Pirates.
Paul Goldschmidt's grand slam in the top of the 10th inning Monday appeared to give St. Louis a comfortable lead, but Pittsburgh stormed back by scoring three times with no outs in the bottom half before failing to execute a bunt, getting a potential tying run thrown out at home and flying out to end the game with another potential tying run at third. The Cardinals' 6-5 victory in the series opener marked the sixth time in the last seven contests they played in a game decided by two runs or fewer - a stretch during which they have won five times. Conversely, the Pirates haven't been able to catch much of a break since the Midsummer Classic, dropping eight of 10 - including losses in extra-inning affairs in each of the last two days. Pittsburgh went 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position Monday but still managed to strand 11.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), AT&T Sportsnet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Dakota Hudson (9-4, 3.57 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Chris Archer (3-6, 5.36)
Hudson has won each of his three starts in July despite sporting a 4.50 ERA for the month and logging only one quality start. The Mississippi State product won for the seventh time in eight decisions Thursday in Cincinnati after permitting three runs on six hits over five innings to improve to 5-3 with a 4.21 ERA in 11 road appearances (10 starts). Josh Bell is 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs against Hudson, who settled for a no-decision on May 12 versus the Pirates after allowing three runs over six frames.
Archer is winless since June 6 but has been relatively sharp in two outings since the All-Star break, yielding three runs over six innings each time while totaling 18 strikeouts and four walks in no-decisions against the Chicago Cubs and Cardinals. The two-time All-Star has been significantly better at home (3-3, 4.04 ERA) than on the road (0-3, 6.91) as he attempts to turn around one of his worst seasons as a pro. Archer has made two starts against St. Louis in 2019, posting a 2.45 ERA while failing to factor into the decision either time.
WALK-OFFS
1. Goldschmidt has 17 RBIs in July after driving in 12 runs in May and June combined.
2. The Pirates activated RHP Keone Kela from the 60-day injured list Monday and promptly suspended him for two games for an unspecified violation of his contract.
3. St. Louis OF Tyler O'Neill finished 0-for-5 in the opener after entering the contest batting .480 with four homers and 11 RBIs in his previous eight games against Pittsburgh.