Michael McGreevy has pitched like an ace throughout most of the season for the St. Louis Cardinals, especially in his past four starts.
On Wednesday, the Cardinals’ 2021 first-round pick will look to keep his team’s momentum going when he faces the Pittsburgh Pirates and fellow right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski in St. Louis.
McGreevy (3-2, 2.10 ERA) has gone six innings in each of his past four starts and allowed only two runs for a 0.75 ERA during that span. He’ll oppose Mlodzinski (3-3, 4.40), who pitched as the bulk reliever in his last appearance last Thursday against the Colorado Rockies.
McGreevy gave up only one run during his most recent six-inning start last Thursday. He struck out three, walked one and allowed five hits in a 5-4 road win over the Athletics.
The Cardinals are 6-3 this season when McGreevy starts and 21-9 since he made his debut in 2024.
McGreevy is 1-0 with a 4.00 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against the Pirates.
And McGreevy has held three teams with winning records — the A’s, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres — to only one earned run each. He has been able to maintain solid numbers with his command of a fastball he’s throwing with less velocity (91 mph, per MLB.com) and a solid mix of breaking balls.
“While velo isn’t everything — and it’s been great being able to be a pitcher and make sure that’s not the thing that’s hurting me. … If you know what you have that day, you know how you can play,” McGreevy told the “Dealin’ the Cards” podcast last week.
The Pirates enter Wednesday’s game one loss from matching their season-worst five-game losing streak. Four of the losses during that skid from April 26-30 came against the Cardinals after a four-game sweep in Pittsburgh. St. Louis is 5-0 this season against the Pirates.
Tuesday’s loss was the latest frustrating result for the Pirates, who rallied with two runs to tie the game in the ninth inning only to lose on a three-run home run in the 10th by Ivan Herrera.
Pittsburgh’s bullpen has struggled lately and has a 4.22 ERA with only eight saves, the third fewest in the majors.
“It’s something we continue to talk about,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “There’s going to be opportunity for guys that are currently on the team, and externally as well. Just looking for guys to step up and claim that opportunity.”
Mlodzinski will try to prevent those trends from continuing on Wednesday.
In his most recent outing, he gave up two runs on four hits and three walks and struck out two over five innings. Mlodzinski is 2-0 with a 2.18 ERA in 10 career appearances, including three starts, against the Cardinals.
Masyn Winn missed Tuesday’s game to rest his left knee. His MRI came back clean and he could return as early as Wednesday.
The Pirates called up outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia on Tuesday. Garcia, the team’s No. 4-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline, made his team debut and singled in the eighth inning of Pittsburgh’s 9-6 loss in 10 innings.
Garcia made a brief debut last year with the Boston Red Sox before being traded to the Pirates last December.
–Field Level Media
