The St. Louis Cardinals make the trip to Pittsburgh for a Tuesday night regular season matchup against the Pirates at PNC Park, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 PM ET. Andre Pallante gets the ball for St. Louis against Pittsburgh's Jared Jones. With September baseball in full swing and every game carrying weight in the standings, this NL Central clash between two familiar division rivals carries real meaning. Cardinals fans can follow the action on Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365 or listen on KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM.
Cardinals at Pirates: Tuesday, September 22, 2026 Game Preview
This is a division game, and division games in late September have a way of defining seasons. The Cardinals and Pirates know each other well — there are no secrets this deep into a schedule. That familiarity cuts both ways, and how each team's starter handles the moment will go a long way toward deciding the outcome.
Pitching Matchup: Andre Pallante vs. Jared Jones
Andre Pallante draws the start for St. Louis. Pallante has carved out a role in this rotation by throwing strikes and keeping the ball on the ground — the kind of pitcher who doesn't beat himself. He won't dazzle you with a strikeout-heavy line, but he competes, and late in a regular season grind, that competitive consistency matters.
On the other side, Pittsburgh sends Jared Jones to the mound. Jones is a live arm who can challenge any lineup in the division. The Cardinals will need to be disciplined at the plate against him and make him work deep into counts to get into the Pittsburgh bullpen.
Keys to Watch for the Cardinals
- Pallante's command early: If Pallante gets ahead in counts and limits free passes, this Cardinals offense has a chance to stay in front. First-inning trouble on the road is something this club cannot afford.
- Discipline against Jones: Jones has the kind of stuff that exploits aggressive hitters. St. Louis will need to work counts, take pitches, and avoid the big swing-and-miss stretches that can derail a lineup.
- Bullpen depth: In a tight September game on the road, how long Pallante can go — and who follows him — could be the decisive factor. Cardinals management of the back end of the game will be worth watching closely.
- Taking advantage of PNC Park: PNC Park is a beautiful ballpark, but it's not a bandbox. The Cardinals will need to manufacture runs when the long ball isn't there.
Prediction
This shapes up as a low-scoring, competitive September game between two teams that know each other inside and out. Pallante vs. Jones is a compelling pitching matchup with two starters who rely on execution over pure dominance. Give the edge to whichever team strings together two or three hits in the middle innings and protects the lead late. The Cardinals have enough in the lineup to get to Jones, and if Pallante can give St. Louis five or six solid innings, this is a game the Cardinals can win on the road. Cardinals 4, Pirates 2.
