If Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ' dominance is any indication, the sight of a redbird outside Paul Skenes' window on an otherwise peaceful off day may cause him to throw his remote control across the room.
Skenes starts Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. as the Pirates and Cardinals square off in the second of three at Busch Stadium.
Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ won the opener 6-3.
Skenes (3-3, 2.74) has been one of the best pitchers in baseball in his short big-league tenure, and that has extended to most of his divisional foes.
In his career against National League Central teams other than the Cardinals, the Pirates have won seven of nine Skenes starts.
Against the Cardinals with Skenes on the hill, Pittsburgh is 1-3.
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Skenes has a 2.70 ERA against the Cardinals in those four starts, making Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ' success even more impressive.
Earlier this season, Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ put up five earned runs against him, the most he has allowed in his career.
Only one other team, the Cubs, have beaten the Pirates more than once when Skenes starts. Chicago is 2-3.
This season, Skenes' split-finger, his second-most thrown pitch, has been less effective. Batters are hitting .286 against it, up from .184 a year ago.
He has already permitted three homers off that pitch after allowing just one last year.
The Cardinals will send out left-hander Matthew Liberatore (2-3, 3.44), the best man to oppose Skenes. Liberatore has been the Cardinals' most valuable pitcher. He ranks eighth in the National League in wins above replacement among starters.
After a day off following a minor injury, Masyn Winn returns to the lineup. He left the second game of Sunday's doubleheader with an ankle sprain.
The Cardinals are 17-19 and have won three straight. The Pirates are 12-24 and have lost five straight.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Lars Nootbaar, LF
2. Masyn Winn, SS
3. Brendan Donovan, 2B
4. Nolan Arenado, 3B
5. Willson Contreras, DH
6. Alec Burleson, 1B
7. Yohel Pozo, C
8. Jordan Walker, RF
9. Victor Scott II, CF
P: Matthew Liberatore, RHP
PIRATES
1. Oneil Cruz, CF
2. Bryan Reynolds, RF
3. Andrew McCutchen, DH
4. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
5. Alexander Canario, LF
6. Matt Gorski, 1B
7. Jared Triolo, SS
8. Liover Peguero, 2B
9. Henry Davis, C
P:Â Paul Skenes, RHP
Injury report
Ivan Herrera, C (bone bruise): He continued his rehab assignment at Class AAA Memphis on Tuesday, catching seven innings and going 1-for-3 with a single. In five rehab games at Memphis, Herrera has caught 19 innings across three games and served as designated hitter in two other games. He has collected 7 hits in 17 at bats including a double and a home run. The Cardinals will look to have Herrera catch a full nine innings during his rehab assignment and potentially catch in back-to-back games before he is activated. How Herrera responds will factor in determining when he will be activated. Updated May 6
Zack Thompson, LHP (lat strain): Lefty is making steady strides on his throwing program back in Jupiter, Florida, but he's not yet advanced to the schedule that will resemble spring training. He is in the strengthening part of his rehab and has yet to throw a baseball as part of that. Repeated exams of the torn labrum that halted his spring training did not show any setback to delayed Thompson's scheduled move to the injured list. On April 7, Thompson was transferred to the 60-day IL. Updated May 1
