The St. Louis Cardinals head to PNC Park on Thursday, September 24 for a 12:35 PM ET first pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kyle Leahy gets the start for St. Louis against one of the most formidable young arms in the National League, Paul Skenes. With the regular season winding down, every game carries weight, and this one presents a genuine pitching mismatch on paper. The Cardinals will need a sharp offensive effort and a strong outing from Leahy just to keep it close against a Pirates staff led by their prized right-hander.

Pitching Matchup: Kyle Leahy vs. Paul Skenes

There is no sugarcoating the challenge here. Paul Skenes is the Pirates' most dangerous weapon on the mound, a power arm who has established himself as one of the premier starters in the league. Leahy, on the other hand, will need to match the moment and give the Cardinals a chance to compete deep into the game. The St. Louis bullpen's workload will be heavily influenced by how long Leahy can last. A short outing against a lineup that includes Oneil Cruz, Brandon Lowe, and Ryan O'Hearn could get expensive fast.

St. Louis Cardinals Starting Lineup

• JJ Wetherholt, 2B
• Iván Herrera, C
• Alec Burleson, 1B
• Jordan Walker, RF
• Leo Bernal, DH
• Bryan Torres, LF
• Thomas Saggese, 3B
• Nathan Church, CF
• Masyn Winn, SS

Keys to Watch for the Cardinals

Making Skenes Work Early

The Cardinals' best chance against Skenes is driving up his pitch count early. That means disciplined at-bats from the top of the order. JJ Wetherholt leading off gives St. Louis a contact-oriented presence to set the table, and Iván Herrera batting second adds another patient hitter who can make a starter uncomfortable. If Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker get meaningful pitches in their first trips to the plate, St. Louis could put some early pressure on Pittsburgh before Skenes finds his rhythm.

Jordan Walker Needs to Produce

Batting cleanup, Jordan Walker is the Cardinals' biggest bat in this lineup today. Against elite pitching, Walker's ability to do damage in the heart of the order defines St. Louis's offensive ceiling in this game. If he goes quiet, the Cardinals' run-scoring opportunities shrink considerably.

Leahy Must Strand Runners

The Pirates lineup features legitimate threats at multiple spots. Oneil Cruz leads off for Pittsburgh and brings plus speed and power. Leahy will need to be efficient in the strike zone and get groundball outs when runners reach base. Allowing free passes against a lineup like this will compound quickly.

Masyn Winn Batting Ninth

Winn hitting ninth is worth noting — he functions as a secondary table-setter, giving the top of the Cardinals order more opportunities if he can get on base in front of Wetherholt. His ability to work a quality at-bat late in games could matter in a low-scoring contest.

Prediction

This is a tough draw. Skenes is a genuine frontline starter, and Leahy faces an uphill climb keeping Pittsburgh's offense in check long enough for the Cardinals to manufacture runs. St. Louis will need a signature performance from Walker and timely contributions from Burleson and Herrera to have a real shot. Expect a competitive game that ultimately tilts Pittsburgh's way. Pirates 4, Cardinals 2.