The St. Louis Cardinals travel to Pittsburgh for a Wednesday night showdown against the Pirates at PNC Park, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 PM ET on September 23, 2026. Matthew Liberatore gets the ball for St. Louis, squaring off against Pittsburgh's Lake Bachar in a late-season NL Central matchup. With the regular season winding down, every game carries real weight in the standings, and the Cardinals will be looking to pick up a road win in one of the more picturesque ballparks in baseball.

Cardinals vs. Pirates Pitching Matchup: Liberatore vs. Bachar

Matthew Liberatore draws the start for the Cardinals in this one. The left-hander has been a part of St. Louis's rotation picture and will be tasked with keeping Pittsburgh's lineup in check at PNC Park. Facing him is Pirates right-hander Lake Bachar, who gets the nod for the home side.

Neither pitcher enters with a loaded statistical resume available heading into this game, so both clubs will be sorting out how to attack unfamiliar or developing arms. For Liberatore, command and pitch sequencing will be the story to watch. If he can work efficiently through Pittsburgh's lineup and limit walks, the Cardinals give themselves a strong chance to stay in front deep into the game.

Pittsburgh Pirates Lineup to Watch

The Pirates will send out a lineup that features some recognizable names with real professional experience. Bryan Reynolds hits third and represents the most established presence in the Pittsburgh order — a contact-oriented outfielder who can do damage when he gets pitches to drive. Brandon Lowe slots in at cleanup at second base, bringing power potential from the left side.

• Konnor Griffin leads off at shortstop
• Rafael Flores Jr. hits second and catches
• Bryan Reynolds bats third in left field
• Brandon Lowe is the cleanup hitter at second base
• Nick Gonzales hits fifth as the designated hitter
• Ronny Simon bats sixth in right field
• Ryan O'Hearn hits seventh at first base
• Jared Triolo bats eighth at third base
• Jake Mangum rounds out the order in center field

Liberatore will need to navigate Reynolds and Lowe with particular care. Those two at the heart of the order give Pittsburgh legitimate run-scoring capability, and letting them beat him with runners on base would be a quick path to a difficult night on the mound.

Keys to the Game for St. Louis

• Liberatore needs to limit free passes and keep the ball in the park at a hitter-friendly PNC Park
• The Cardinals offense must establish an early lead to take pressure off a young starter
• Bullpen management will matter late in a September game with playoff positioning on the line
• Making Bachar work deep counts early could expose a Pittsburgh bullpen late in the season

Prediction

This is a game that sets up as a genuine toss-up on paper. Liberatore has the stuff to keep Pittsburgh off-balance, but PNC Park and the late-September stakes mean nothing comes easy. If the Cardinals offense comes out focused and makes Bachar earn every out, St. Louis has enough to grind out a road win. Cardinals 4, Pirates 3.

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