Cards Go for the Broom in Pittsburgh
The Cardinal Chronicle
Cardinals Go for the Broom in Pittsburgh
St. Louis, Mo.
By Ray Mileur
The Cardinals have a chance Thursday afternoon to do something that can change the tone of an early-season road trip — finish the job.
After taking the first three games of their four-game series at PNC Park, St. Louis will go for the sweep against the Pirates in a 12:35 p.m. ET, 11:35 a.m. CT, getaway-day matchup.
The Cardinals enter the game 17-13 and third in the NL Central, while Pittsburgh has slipped to 16-15 and fifth after dropping four straight.
This series has already had a little bit of everything.
On Monday night, the Cardinals were nearly no-hit before erupting for four runs in the ninth inning to secure a 4-2 win. Pedro Pagés and JJ Wetherholt hit back-to-back home runs, and José Fermín delivered the go-ahead hit.
On Tuesday, the offense came alive early in an 11-7 win, setting a season high in runs behind big performances from Nolan Gorman, Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson.
On Wednesday night, the Cardinals built a 5-1 lead behind six strong innings from Andre Pallante and held on for a 5-4 win. Nathan Church’s catch at the left-field wall ended the game and may have preserved the series lead.
Now comes the hard part: beating Paul Skenes.
The Pirates will send their ace to the mound Thursday, and Skenes has been exactly what Pittsburgh expected him to be. He enters at 4-1 with a 2.48 ERA, a 0.72 WHIP, 30 strikeouts, seven walks, and only 14 hits allowed over 29 innings.
For St. Louis, Hunter Dobbins is expected to make his Cardinals debut after being activated from the injured list. Dobbins came over from Boston in the offseason deal that sent Willson Contreras to the Red Sox, giving the Cardinals another arm with rotation upside at a time when every inning matters. Last season with Boston, Dobbins went 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA, 45 strikeouts, and 17 walks in 13 games, including 11 starts.
That makes Thursday’s game more than just a sweep opportunity. It is also a first look at one of the pitchers tied directly to Chaim Bloom’s reshaping of the roster.
For Dobbins, the assignment is not easy. A midday start on the road, a chance at a sweep, and Skenes on the other side is a tall order. But the Cardinals do not need him to be a hero. They need strikes, composure, and enough length to avoid exposing a bullpen that was pushed hard Wednesday night.
The bullpen remains a concern. Pallante gave the Cardinals six excellent innings Wednesday, allowing one run while striking out six and walking none, but the relievers turned a four-run lead into a one-run finish. Riley O’Brien recorded his eighth save, but St. Louis had to hold on until the final out.
Offensively, the Cardinals have started to find different ways to win. Wetherholt has provided power and confidence near the top of the order. Burleson has driven the baseball with authority. Walker continues to produce run-scoring at-bats. Gorman has supplied power. Herrera keeps getting on base and setting the table.
Against Skenes, the approach has to be old-school simple: shorten up, make him work, take the free base if it comes, and do not waste the few mistakes he offers. You are not likely to beat Skenes by waiting around for him to fall apart. You beat him by making every pitch matter and scratching across enough offense to give your pitcher a chance.
The Cardinals came to Pittsburgh needing to stop the slide. They now have a chance to leave with a sweep.
That is how a road trip gets remembered.
Game Information
Matchup: St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates
Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
When: Thursday, April 30, 2026
First pitch: 12:35 p.m. ET / 11:35 a.m. CT
TV: Cardinals.TV, SportsNet Pittsburgh
Radio: KMOX 1120 AM / 104.1 FM
Probable starters: RHP Hunter Dobbins vs. RHP Paul Skenes
The Cardinal Chronicle in association with Gateway Sports