The Cardinals begin a home series Tuesday against the Pirates. First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m.
Right-hander Miles Mikolas (4-6, 5.32) will take the mound for the Cardinals. He has a 3.72 ERA over his last five starts.
After allowing an opponents' batting average of .316 in his first eight starts, foes have been held to .212 in his last five starts.
His Statcast expected batting average based on quality of contact is also down sharply.
The Pirates will counter with rookie right-hander Paul Skenes (3-0, 3.00).
The top overall draft pick last season, Skenes, 22, has not given up more than three runs in any of his first five career starts.
He has eight of the top 10 fastest pitches thrown this season by a starter, topping out at 101.9.
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This is the Cardinals' first time facing Pittsburgh this season. They've faced the other three divisional foes already this year. They'll face the Bucs nine times over the next six weeks.
Last season at this point, the two teams had already played seven times.
Shortstop Masyn Winn is batting leadoff again. He hasn't yet found success there, as he's putting up a .650 OPS in 11 games.
The Cardinals are 31-33, fourth in the NL Central and seven games out of first. Ƶ has won four of its last 10 games.
The Pirates are 31-34, fifth in the NL Central and have won six of their last 10 games.
The two teams have somewhat similar profiles, sub-par offenses and middling pitching. They rank 12th and 13th in the National League in OPS and both sport ERAs that put them in the middle of the league.
The Pirates' rotation ranks among the NL's best, while the bullpen is poor. The Cardinals, conversely, have an above-average bullpen and a below average rotation by ERA.
Bucs manager Derek Shelton was born in Carbondale, Illinois, and attended college there at Southern Illinois.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Masyn Winn, SS
2.Alec Burleson, RF
3.Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
4.Nolan Gorman, 2B
5.Nolan Arenado, 3B
6.Brendan Donovan, LF
7.Matt Carpenter, DH
8.Pedro Pagés, C
9.Michael Siani, CF
P: Miles Mikolas, RHP
PIRATES
1.Andrew McCutchen, DH
2. Bryan Reynolds, LF
3.Connor Joe, RF
4.Oneil Cruz, SS
5.Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
6.Nick Gonzales, 2B
7.Rowdy Tellez, 1B
8.Yasmani Grandal, C
9.Jack Suwinski, CF
P: Paul Skenes, RHP
Injury report
Packy Naughton (flexor tendon surgery):He was activated from the IL and will be available for Class AAA Memphis. Naughton underwent flexor tendon surgery last June and made eight rehab appearances between the Cardinals' Florida Complex League affiliate and Class A Palm Beach.Updated June 11
Giovanny Gallegos (right shoulder impingement):Right-hander threw a scoreless inning Saturday for Class AAA Memphis in Omaha, a day earlier than previously advertised. He will throw one-plus inning Tuesday at Springfield, and a decision on his next move will then be made depending on how he performs and responds physically.Updated June 11
Willson Contreras (fractured arm):Contreras caught a bullpen session Tuesday from Nick Robertson. He also began hitting soft toss Tuesday. Asked about his return, the catcher expects it to be before the calendar turns to July. "I love how eager he is to get back," said manager Oliver Marmol on June 8.Updated June 11
Tommy Edman (wrist surgery):Switch-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.Updated June 11
Steven Matz (lower back stiffness):The lefty pitched two innings for Class AAA Memphis in Omaha, Nebraska, on Thursday as the first step in a rehab assignment. He'll start Tuesday for Class AA Springfield, and the goal will be 40 pitches or two-to-three innings, whichever comes first. Matz was targeted for 40 to 45 pitches but needed only 24 pitches to get six outs and through two innings.Updated June 11
Keynan Middleton (forearm strain):An update on Middleton's season-ending surgery is available here. He came out of surgery Tuesday, according to manager Oli Marmol.Updated June 11
Riley O'Brien (flexor tendon):After strong bullpen sessions this past week and recovery, O'Brien threw a live batting practice session Tuesday at Class AA Springfield. If that goes well, he could see a rehab assignment within days. 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.Updated June 11
Nick Robertson (elbow inflammation):Robertson completed a low-intensity bullpen session and did not experience any difficult or soreness following the workout. He completed a normal bullpen Saturday at Busch Stadium, and how quickly he advances from there will depend on how he feels Sunday. He experienced a “little tightness” in his elbow during a throwing session in late May.Updated June 8
Tommy Edman (wrist surgery):Switch-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.Updated June 11
Lars Nootbaar (oblique strain):Outfielder went on the 10-day injured list Friday with a strained oblique. 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.Updated June 5