The St. Louis Cardinals are using the closing games of their disappointing season to get a head start on next season.
Among the players getting extra attention is outfielder Jordan Walker, who hit a three-run double to help the Cardinals record a 10-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.
The Cardinals (77-75) will try to complete a four-game sweep in the series finale on Thursday night in St. Louis.
During a five-game hitting streak, Walker is 5-for-15 with two walks, two doubles, two homers and six RBIs.
Walker spent most of the season at Triple-A Memphis after opening the season with St. Louis in a 9-for-58 funk. But he is batting .271 in September with an .897 OPS.
“This is that confidence piece we’re talking about with Jordan, just continuing to pile on some of these moments that flip a game, that he can draw from moving forward,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said.
“This game is hard, man, especially at this level when you’re trying to make adjustments at the highest level. To be able to do what he’s doing right now, this is going to help down the road.”
The Cardinals will turn to right-hander Erick Fedde (8-9, 3.45 ERA) to start Thursday’s game. Since arriving from the Chicago White Sox in a trade ahead of the deadline, he has gone 1-5 with a 4.43 ERA in eight starts.
In his most recent outing, against Toronto on Friday, Fedde allowed three runs on six hits in five innings in a game the Blue Jays won 4-3 in 11 innings. He struck out three and walked one while receiving the no-decision.
Fedde has not faced the Pirates this season. He is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in two career outings against them.
The Pirates (71-81) will try to stem the tide after losing five of their last six games.
“We’re a hit away at times, or a pitch away,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said in the middle of that downturn. “We need to find a way to get that hit or make that pitch.”
The Pirates will start right-hander Luis Ortiz (6-6, 3.45 ERA) on Thursday. He allowed seven runs (four earned) on five hits — including two homers — in four innings in an 8-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Friday.
In his final two starts of August, Ortiz allowed just five hits in 12 scoreless innings. He struck out 10 and walked four.
Then Ortiz allowed 11 runs (seven earned) in 9 2/3 innings in his first two starts of September.
Ortiz made one relief appearance against the Cardinals earlier this year, striking out four in two innings while allowing one run on three hits. He is 0-2 with a 14.63 ERA in four career outings (three starts) against St. Louis.
Both teams made roster moves before Wednesday’s game.
The Cardinals put starting pitcher Lance Lynn on the 15-day injured list with right knee inflammation and recalled Michael McGreevy from Triple-A Memphis. McGreevy earned the win on Wednesday after striking out four over three scoreless innings.
The Pirates placed reliever Kyle Nicolas on the injured list with a back issue. Also, infielder/outfielder Oneil Cruz was out of the starting lineup again Wednesday due to ankle soreness.
–Field Level Media
