The Pittsburgh Pirates close out a late-September homestand at PNC Park on Thursday, September 24, when Paul Skenes takes the hill against the St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander Kyle Leahy. First pitch is scheduled for 12:35 PM ET, with the game airing on SportsNet Pittsburgh locally and KDKA-AM 1020 on the radio. With the regular season winding down, every game carries weight for both clubs as they look to finish strong in the NL Central.
Probable Starters: Paul Skenes vs. Kyle Leahy
Paul Skenes gets the ball for Pittsburgh. The young right-hander has been one of the most closely watched arms in the National League since arriving in the big leagues, and his starts at PNC Park consistently draw attention. Without updated season stats available at this time, the specifics of his current line remain to be confirmed — but his presence in a Thursday afternoon matchup of this magnitude tells you the Pirates value this one.
Opposing him is Kyle Leahy for St. Louis. Leahy has worked his way into the Cardinals' rotation picture, and how he handles Pittsburgh's lineup will be a central storyline. As with Skenes, exact season numbers for Leahy are not available heading into this preview, so the matchup will have to speak for itself once the lineups are posted.
Keys to Watch in This NL Central Matchup
- Skenes's command: When Skenes is locating his fastball and mixing his secondary pitches effectively, opposing lineups have little margin for error. Watch how he attacks St. Louis hitters early in counts.
- Pittsburgh's offense against Leahy: The Pirates will need to make Leahy work deep into counts and look to get traffic on the bases early. Generating traffic against a Cardinals starter who hasn't been tested in this environment is an opportunity Pittsburgh should target.
- Cardinals' approach at the plate: St. Louis is a disciplined offensive club. If Pirates hitters in the lineup can generate pressure first, it forces the Cardinals into a reactive posture — which is exactly where the home team wants them on a Thursday afternoon at PNC Park.
- Bullpen management: Late September means rosters are expanded and options are plentiful. How both managers deploy their relievers once the starter exits will shape the final innings significantly.
Prediction
Skenes on the mound at PNC Park is always a reason for optimism, and the home-field advantage on a Thursday afternoon gives Pittsburgh a genuine edge. The Cardinals will not go quietly — they rarely do — but if Skenes is sharp through six innings and the Pirates scratch across runs early against Leahy, this one goes Pittsburgh's way. Pirates win, 4–2.
