Cardinals vs. Pirates - News - September 23, 2026

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Kyle Leahy - Covers two frames in no-decision Leahy didn't factor in the decision Thursday at Pittsburgh after giving up a run on three hits and no walks over two innings. He struck out three.

Impact It was another short start down the stretch for the right-hander as the Cardinals managed his workload to close out his first season as a big-league starter. Leahy lasted fewer than five frames in his final six starts of the year, but he still finished with a 10-5 record and a 3.66 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 132:41 K:BB across 140 innings. That innings total is the 29-year-old's largest since 2022 in the minors -- his last season as a full-time starter -- and should set him up nicely to be a key rotation piece and avoid workload limitations late in the 2027 campaign.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Mason Montgomery - Dominant in 17th save Montgomery picked up the save Thursday versus St. Louis, striking out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning.

Impact The left-hander entered for the ninth inning with Pittsburgh holding a 2-1 advantage, and he closed things out in strong form by punching out the side in order to record his 17th save of 2026. Montgomery has turned into a late-inning weapon for the Pirates and hasn't given up a run since July 26. During that 25-game stretch, he's picked up three wins and converted all 15 of his save chances with a 0.68 WHIP and 34:7 K:BB.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Paul Skenes - Reaches 200 Ks for 2026 Skenes did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over 6.1 innings against the Cardinals. He struck out eight.

Impact After surrendering five runs during his previous start against Kansas City, Skenes bounced back Thursday in his final outing of the campaign. The right-hander surrendered a first-inning homer to Alec Burleson but locked in from there, allowing just four more baserunners to reach. His strikeout of Leo Bernal to begin the seventh inning was his 200th of the season and signaled an end to his afternoon at 96 pitches. Skenes closes out an up-and-down campaign with a 10-11 record and a 3.82 ERA and 1.12 WHIP across 174.1 innings covering 32 starts.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

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St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates - News: Sep 23, 2026

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Paul Skenes set an impossible bar. The Pirates ace is undaunted after not meeting it in 2026