Postgame Report: STL (-130) Loss

Things are heating up in MLB and in the Pickstreak game so stay tuned today.  We may have two more games to play before the day is over.

The Cardinals lost 5-0 to the Pirates who have won six in a row.  They have some momentum in Pittsburgh and Mitch Keller was the beneficiary of a Pirates' team that is playing in good spirits.

Keller had a great start today:  7.0IP 5H 0ER 7K 1BB -- he shut down a good Cardinals lineup and won this game for the Pirates.

Sonny Gray had only allowed three hits and one earned run through six innings and had retired twelve in a row entering the seventh.  A walk and a pair of singles led to an earned run and a call to the bullpen.  Riley O'Brien entered the game, inheriting two base runners.  He couldn't close the door on the Pirates' rally giving up two hits and three earned runs, two of which were charged to Gray.  

In hindsight, it was inconsequential to the outcome of the game with the Cardinals failing to score any runs off the Pirates today but with their bullpen well rested, making the call to O'Brien in a high leverage situation was a questionable one.  I like Gray to finish that inning if you aren't going to call in Matz or Romero or one of your high leverage arms with two runners on base.

Dennis Santana returned from his suspension and shut down the eighth for the Pirates.  Ian Mattson pitched in back to back games and closed out the ninth.  I had thought Santana was still under suspension but it seems his suspension was reduced by a game.  

The Pirates have gotten some good pitching out of their bullpen this season.  Bednar, Santana, Mattson and Ashcraft have all pitched well in relief for the Bucs.  

All of their relievers and today's starting pitcher, Mitch Keller, have been mentioned in trade rumors as we approach the July trade deadline.  The Pirates remain out of contention this season and will more than likely be looking at adding some prospects this month.  Keller has a big check for three more seasons but showed today that he has the makings of a front of the line starter.  Pittsburgh's trade deadline decisions are as interesting in any team in baseball.