The Pirates and Cardinals play the final game of a three-game series at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 1:15 p.m. ET. Braxton Ashcraft is the Pirates’ probable starter in his 10th start, carrying a 3.09 ERA over 55 1/3 innings with 56 strikeouts and opponents hitting .222 against him. He last pitched against the Phillies, throwing 6 2/3 innings and allowing four earned runs on seven hits. Dustin May starts for the Cardinals in his 10th start, posting a 4.81 ERA with 6.5 strikeouts per nine innings and an opponent batting average of .292. May last pitched against the Royals, allowing three earned runs in six innings.
"A righty last appeared on Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies, when he tossed 6 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs while giving up seven hits. In nine games this season, the 26-year-old has an ERA of 3.09, with 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents are hitting .222 against him. Ashcraft is trying to pick up his sixth quality start of the year in this game. Ashcraft will look to build on a four-game streak of pitching five or more innings (he's averaging 6.1 innings per appearance)."
"The Cardinals will send May (3-4) to the mound for his 10th start this season. The right-hander last pitched on Saturday, when he gave up three earned runs and allowed four hits in six innings against the Kansas City Royals. The 28-year-old has pitched in nine games this season with an ERA of 4.81 and 6.5 strikeouts per nine innings, with an opponent batting average of .292. If he completes six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs allowed, he'll earn his fifth quality start in a row. May has seven starts in a row of five innings or more."
Read at Bleacher Nation
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