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At Busch Stadium, Will the Pirates' Recent Upswing Overwhelm the Cardinals?

As the Pittsburgh Pirates prepare to face off against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, fans are eager to see if their team can continue its recent positive trend. The upcoming game, scheduled for June 13th at 6:15 PM UTC, promises an exciting clash that will be broadcasted on SportsNet PT.


Sep 2, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;  St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker (18) slides and catches a line drive hit by Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Connor Joe (not pictured) during the seventh inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Analyzing the Pirates' performance in their last few games reveals a mixed bag of outcomes but some promising trends. Despite a challenging season, there have been glimpses of potential that could spell trouble for the Cardinals. In their most recent encounter against the Minnesota Twins, although ending in a loss during extra innings with a score of 11-5, it's essential to note that this was not without a fight. The Pirates managed to secure 10 hits and showcased resilience by pushing the game into extra innings.


A closer look at their statistics reveals some areas of strength and improvement. Their hitting has shown signs of efficiency with an average batting average (.263) and on-base percentage (.349) from one of these games indicating potential for creating scoring opportunities. However, consistency remains an issue as evidenced by fluctuating performances across different matches.


Sep 2, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;  St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker (18) slides and catches a line drive hit by Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Connor Joe (not pictured) during the seventh inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Pitching appears to be where improvements are most needed; with an earned run average (ERA) reaching as high as 12.6 in one instance from bullpen efforts and overall ERA sitting uncomfortably at 8.1 across these games reviewed. This is compounded by a WHIP (Walks plus Hits per Innings Pitched) exceeding 1.9 indicating opponents are finding too many chances to get on base.


Fielding metrics offer some solace with a fielding percentage nearing perfection (.974), suggesting that when balls are put into play, the Pirates can rely on their defense to make crucial outs.


Sep 2, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;  Pittsburgh Pirates pinch hitter Joshua Palacios (54) celebrates with designated hitter Andrew McCutchen (22) after hitting a go ahead two run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

The venue itself might play into how strategies unfold; Busch Stadium is known for its balanced field dimensions which neither particularly favor hitters nor pitchers exclusively – demanding well-rounded performances from visiting teams.


As we look towards this matchup at Busch Stadium on June 13th, it's clear that while challenges lie ahead for the Pirates, there's also opportunity rooted in recent performances hinting at untapped potential waiting to be fully realized against the Cardinals.

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