The Cardinals wrap up a home stand with hopes of a series win Thursday against the Pirates. First pitch is set for 1:15 p.m.
After splitting the first two games, a win would give the Cardinals their first series win since May 27-29 at Cincinnati.
A win would also give the Redbirds a winning homestand. They're 3-3 in six games vs. Colorado and Pittsburgh.
Right-hander Lance Lynn (2-3, 3.58) will take the mound for the Cardinals.
Lynn has lasted just four innings in each of his last two starts. He gave up four earned runs last time out, vs. Colorado.
Despite adding about a run to his ERA after a strong April, his hard-hit rate has declined from 41% to 32%.
The Pirates will counter with right-hander Mitch Keller (8-3, 3.16).
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Keller throws six pitches, not counting his change, which he rarely deploys.
Three of his last four starts vs. ºüÀêÊÓƵ have been quality, and he hasn't permitted more than three earned runs vs. the Redbirds in his last five matchups against them.
José FermÃn will bat seventh and play third, his sixth start of the season, as Nolan Arenado moves to designated hitter.
The Cardinals are 32-34, a half-game ahead of the Pirates, who are 32-35.
The two teams comprise half of the four NL Central teams jammed together within a half-game of one another, all either 7 or 7 1/2 games behind division-leading Milwaukee.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ is 5-7 in its last 12, scoring four or fewer runs in seven of those games.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1.ÌýMasyn Winn, SS
2.ÌýAlec Burleson, RF
3.ÌýPaul Goldschmidt, 1B
4.ÌýNolan Gorman, 2B
5.ÌýNolan Arenado, DH
6.ÌýBrendan Donovan, LF
7.ÌýJosé FermÃn, 3B
8.ÌýPedro Pagés, C
9.ÌýMichael Siani, CF
P: Lance Lynn, RHP
PIRATES
1. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
2. Bryan Reynolds, DH
3. Oneil Cruz, SS
4. Edward Olivares, RF
5. Rowdy Tellez, 1B
6. Jared Triolo, 2B
7. Jack Suwinski, LF
8. Yasmani Grandal, C
9. Michael A. Taylor, CF
P: Mitch Keller, RHP
Injury report
Lars Nootbaar (oblique strain):ÌýOutfielder has started torso movements and could be cleared to swing a bat by this weekend, while the team is at Wrigley Field. He has responded well to increased movements of his core muscles and tests of the area injured. Manager Oliver 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.ÌýUpdated June 13Ìý
Giovanny Gallegos (right shoulder impingement): Right-handed reliever will throw an inning Friday for Class AA Springfield as his rehab assignment continues. Gallegos responded well to throwing more than an inning, and with the Cardinals' input opted not to throw back-to-back days before returning the majors. His final tuneup could be Friday. According to the Cardinals' internal numbers, Gallegos velocity was back to his pre-injury level.ÌýUpdated June 13
Willson Contreras (fractured arm):ÌýCatcher took batting practice Thursday against a coach in the batting cage adjacent to the clubhouse. It was his most aggressive work yet with a bat since fracturing his arm. He's been able to catch bullpen sessions without soreness and he'll advance in the cage and into more aggressive BP depending on how he feels each day. Contreras will stay in ºüÀêÊÓƵ to work at the ballpark while the team is on the road, and he's eying a rehab assignment that could begin around June 18. Contreras is eager to push the timetable for his return, he said.ÌýUpdated June 13
Tommy Edman (wrist surgery):ÌýSwitch-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.ÌýUpdated June 13
Steven Matz (lower back stiffness):ÌýThe lefty will start Sunday for Class AA Springfield and aim for around 50 pitches. This is a significant moment in his rehab. Depending on how he recovers from this start, he'll either repeat that target number or advance deeper into the game where effectiveness also becomes part of the factor determining his return date.ÌýUpdated June 13
Keynan Middleton (forearm strain):ÌýAn update on Middleton's season-ending surgery is available here. He came out of surgery Tuesday, according to manager Oli Marmol.ÌýUpdated June 11
Riley O'Brien (flexor tendon):ÌýReliever will officially began his rehab assignment Saturday with Class AA Springfield. He'll be assigned a single inning. That schedule sets up for him to pitch again Tuesday. 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.ÌýUpdated June 13
Nick Robertson (elbow inflammation):ÌýRobertson will travel to Springfield, Mo., to throw a live batting practice session for hitters there on Friday. If he recovers from that well, he could begin a rehab assignment imminently, even as early as Tuesday, if not before. He experienced a “little tightness†in his elbow during a throwing session in late May.ÌýUpdated June 13Ìý