The Pittsburgh Pirates arrive in St. Louis for their August 28, 2025 matchup against the Cardinals with a 56–74 record that reflects a season of frustration and rebuilding, yet beneath the struggles lies a story of growth, individual milestones, and glimpses of a brighter future that fans hope will eventually lift the franchise back to contention. The most significant storyline for Pittsburgh has been the emergence of Paul Skenes, who has quickly established himself as one of the most electric young pitchers in baseball, earning his second straight All-Star selection thanks to his overpowering fastball, command, and strikeout dominance, and his starts have become appointment viewing even during a tough season. Manager Derek Shelton has leaned heavily on Skenes to anchor a rotation otherwise riddled with inconsistency, as veterans and younger arms alike have failed to find steady footing, often leaving the bullpen overworked and exposed in late-inning situations that have cost the team close games. Offensively, the Pirates have relied on a mix of aging veterans and developing pieces, with Andrew McCutchen continuing to provide leadership and moments of inspiration, including surpassing Roberto Clemente on the franchise’s all-time home run list earlier this season, while Bryan Reynolds has remained the team’s most reliable bat, offering consistent production in the heart of the order. Contributions from younger players such as Jared Triolo have offered encouragement, and the flashes of offensive growth from the likes of Henry Davis provide further optimism that the team is building a foundation for future success.

Still, the offense remains streaky, prone to long stretches where situational hitting evaporates, and road contests against disciplined clubs like the Cardinals often expose those weaknesses. Defensively, the Pirates have shown competence in stretches, with Reynolds providing stability in the outfield and Ke’Bryan Hayes flashing Gold Glove caliber play at third base, but errors at inopportune moments have been a persistent issue. From a betting standpoint, Pittsburgh has been an unreliable team against the spread, reflecting the inconsistency of a roster that can surprise with competitive performances one night and collapse the next. For the Pirates, this matchup against St. Louis is less about altering the standings and more about continuing to evaluate young talent in high-pressure environments, instilling resilience in their clubhouse, and giving fans reason to believe that patience will pay off. Every inning Skenes throws, every at-bat a young hitter takes, and every defensive chance converted or missed becomes a data point in assessing who will form the nucleus of the next competitive Pirates team. Facing a Cardinals squad with playoff hopes still alive ensures that the challenge will be formidable, but it also provides the kind of test that Pittsburgh’s front office and coaching staff want for their players, a benchmark against which development and competitiveness can be measured. While the Pirates enter as clear underdogs, a spirited performance in St. Louis would serve as validation of incremental progress and offer a reminder that while 2025 may not yield wins in the standings, it can still produce meaningful steps toward the future.