From First-Place Hopes to Last Place: Pirates Searching for Answers After Cardinals Collapse
The Pittsburgh Pirates entered their four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals — the start of seven straight home games against NL Central opponents — with a 6-3 record against division foes and momentum from their first series win in Milwaukee since 2019.
But their first home series against an NL Central opponent this season could not have gone much worse.
According to Sarah Langs, the Pirates became just the second team in at least the expansion era (since 1961) to have multiple perfect-game bids reach at least 6 2/3 innings in a four-game span, joining the 2022 New York Yankees.
After the seventh-inning hit that ended the bid, everything unraveled. Dennis Santana, usually a reliable late-inning arm, surrendered four runs while trying to record the final two outs of the ninth inning, blowing both the shutout and the lead.
The Pirates allowed 30 runs over the four-game series, walked 16 batters and gave up seven home runs, including two first-inning homers against Paul Skenes.
The series also introduced a new “Pirate Killer” in St. Louis rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt, a Western Pennsylvania native. The No. 7 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft — selected two spots ahead of Konnor Griffin — went 6 for 16 with two home runs, three RBIs and six runs scored.
Wetherholt’s leadoff homer against Skenes on Thursday nearly left the stadium, setting the tone immediately.
The Cardinals have long been a difficult matchup for Pittsburgh, but it appeared 2026 might be the year the Pirates could take advantage of St. Louis’ rebuilding phase.
Instead, what began as a promising week with Pittsburgh sitting at 16-12 and playing some of its best baseball of the young season ended with the Pirates at 16-16 and in last place in the NL Central.
Baseball can turn quickly. Momentum disappears fast, and losing streaks can snowball.
The good news for Pittsburgh is there is always another game. On Friday, the Pirates open a series against the Cincinnati Reds, who sit in first place in the division and feature one of baseball’s hottest players in shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
Mitch Keller, Carmen Mlodzinski and Braxton Ashcraft are scheduled to start for Pittsburgh.
It will be crucial for the Pirates to secure a series win against Cincinnati. Pittsburgh played 18 home games in April — the most it will play in any month this season. Finishing the month at .500 is disappointing, but it still leaves the club in a manageable position.
The NL Central remains one of baseball’s most competitive divisions, with no clear frontrunner and all five teams separated by just 4.5 games.
