St. Louis Cardinals vs Pittsburgh Pirates, August 30, 2026

PiratesPIT
5-4
Final
CardinalsSTL

August 30, 2026, 2:15 PM ET | Busch Stadium

Last 5 Form

Pittsburgh Pirates

3-2

Last 5
W 1-0
@ SD
L 0-3
@ SD
L 1-4
@ STL
W 6-2
@ STL
W 5-4
@ STL

St. Louis Cardinals

2-3

Last 5
L 7-8
vs BAL
W 7-5
vs BAL
W 4-1
vs PIT
L 2-6
vs PIT
L 4-5
vs PIT

Starting Pitchers

Pittsburgh Pirates

Braxton Ashcraft headshot
Braxton Ashcraft
Recorded starter

St. Louis Cardinals

Matthew Liberatore headshot
Matthew Liberatore
Recorded starter

Standings Snapshot

Full standings
Season recordsRecord, division and wild card rank, games back. Standings as of Aug 30, 11:25 PM ET
TeamW-LPCTDivWCGB
Pittsburgh Pirates67-71.486#4#718.5
St. Louis Cardinals68-70.493#3#617.5
PCT
winning percentage
Div
division rank
WC
wild card rank
GB
games back

Season Comparison

2026
Pittsburgh PiratesSt. Louis Cardinals
.734
OPS
.691
186
HR
167
767
Runs
720
4.14
ERA
4.26
1.30
WHIP
1.36
1496
Strikeouts by pitchers
1278

Lower is better for ERA and WHIP; bars show each value against the larger of the two.

Top Players

Across up to five recent games with recorded boxscores.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Hitters

Oneil Cruz headshot
Oneil Cruz

6 H, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Jared Triolo headshot
Jared Triolo

6 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Brandon Lowe headshot
Brandon Lowe

3 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Pitchers

Mason Montgomery headshot
Mason Montgomery

3.0 IP, 4 SO, 0.00 ERA

Paul Skenes headshot
Paul Skenes

6.0 IP, 4 SO, 0.00 ERA

Carmen Mlodzinski headshot
Carmen Mlodzinski

3.1 IP, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA

St. Louis Cardinals

Hitters

Alec Burleson headshot
Alec Burleson

4 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI

Jordan Walker headshot
Jordan Walker

6 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Nathan Church headshot
Nathan Church

3 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI

Pitchers

Gordon Graceffo headshot
Gordon Graceffo

5.0 IP, 7 SO, 0.00 ERA

Quinn Mathews headshot
Quinn Mathews

5.2 IP, 7 SO, 1.59 ERA

Luis Gastelum headshot
Luis Gastelum

3.1 IP, 7 SO, 2.70 ERA

Top Performers

Picked by MLBDB from this game's box score. MLB's own list of top performers can differ.

Matthew Liberatore headshot
Matthew Liberatore
St. Louis Cardinals, MLBDB pick
Braxton Ashcraft headshot
Braxton Ashcraft
Pittsburgh Pirates, MLBDB pick
Esmerlyn Valdez headshot
Esmerlyn Valdez
Pittsburgh Pirates, MLBDB pick

Line Score

Pittsburgh Pirates 5, St. Louis Cardinals 4: PIT 8 hits, STL 9 hits; PIT 0 errors, STL 1 error.

Runs by inningThen runs (R), hits (H) and errors (E) for the game
Team123456789RHE
Pittsburgh Pirates021010100580
St. Louis Cardinals000020200491

Box Score

Batting

Bryan Reynolds and Brandon Lowe led Pittsburgh Pirates with 2 hits each.

Pittsburgh Pirates batting
PlayerABRHRBIBBSOHR
Jared TrioloSS4111121
Oneil CruzDH4210110
Bryan ReynoldsLF5020020
Rafael Flores Jr.C4000120
Brandon Lowe2B4121010
Esmerlyn ValdezRF4112011
Billy CookCF0000000
Jake MangumCF/RF4010020
Spencer Horwitz1B3000110
Nick Yorke3B4000030
Totals365844152

Thomas Saggese led St. Louis Cardinals with 3 hits.

St. Louis Cardinals batting
PlayerABRHRBIBBSOHR
Bryan TorresLF2121100
Joshua BáezPH1000000
Iván HerreraC5022000
Alec Burleson1B4011100
Jordan WalkerRF4000020
Nolan GormanDH4000000
José Fermín2B4010010
Nathan ChurchCF4000010
Ramón Urías3B3100120
Thomas SaggeseSS4230000
Totals35494360

Pitching

Braxton Ashcraft went 5.0 innings for Pittsburgh Pirates (3 SO, 2 ER); Matthew Liberatore went 5.2 innings for St. Louis Cardinals (9 SO, 3 ER).

Pitching lines
PitcherIPHRERBBSOHR
Pittsburgh Pirates
Braxton Ashcraft5.0622130
Kirby Yates1.0000010
Camilo Doval0.2222210
Yohan Ramírez0.1000000
Luke Weaver1.0100010
Mason Montgomery1.0000000
St. Louis Cardinals
Matthew Liberatore5.2643292
Ryne Stanek0.1000010
Luis Gastelum1.0111220
Gordon Graceffo2.0100030
AB
at-bats
R
runs
H
hits
RBI
runs batted in
BB
walks
SO
strikeouts
HR
home runs
IP
innings pitched
ER
earned runs

Scoring Summary

  • T2

    Home Run Esmerlyn Valdez homers (16) on a fly ball to right field. Brandon Lowe scores. PIT 2, STL 0

  • T3

    Field Error Brandon Lowe reaches on a fielding error by third baseman Ramón Urías. Oneil Cruz scores. PIT 3, STL 0

  • T5

    Home Run Jared Triolo homers (3) on a fly ball to left field. PIT 4, STL 0

  • B5

    Single Iván Herrera singles on a sharp line drive to center fielder Jake Mangum. Thomas Saggese scores. Bryan Torres to 2nd. PIT 4, STL 1

  • B5

    Single Alec Burleson singles on a ground ball to right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez. Bryan Torres scores. Iván Herrera to 2nd. PIT 4, STL 2

  • T7

    Single Brandon Lowe singles on a sharp line drive to left fielder Bryan Torres. Oneil Cruz scores. Rafael Flores Jr. to 2nd. PIT 5, STL 2

  • B7

    Sac Fly Bryan Torres out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Jake Mangum. Ramón Urías scores. PIT 5, STL 3

  • B7

    Double Iván Herrera doubles (24) on a fly ball to left fielder Bryan Reynolds. Thomas Saggese scores. PIT 5, STL 4

Play-by-Play

All 79 recorded plate appearances, newest first.

  • B9

    Groundout Alec Burleson grounds out sharply, second baseman Brandon Lowe to first baseman Spencer Horwitz. PIT 5, STL 4

  • B9

    Pop Out Iván Herrera pops out to first baseman Spencer Horwitz. PIT 5, STL 4

  • B9

    Groundout Joshua Báez grounds out, third baseman Nick Yorke to first baseman Spencer Horwitz. PIT 5, STL 4

  • T9

    Strikeout Rafael Flores Jr. strikes out on a foul tip. PIT 5, STL 4

  • T9

    Single Bryan Reynolds singles on a sharp line drive to right fielder Jordan Walker. PIT 5, STL 4

  • T9

    Strikeout Oneil Cruz strikes out swinging. PIT 5, STL 4

  • T9

    Groundout Jared Triolo grounds out, third baseman Ramón Urías to first baseman Alec Burleson. PIT 5, STL 4

  • B8

    Groundout Thomas Saggese grounds out, second baseman Brandon Lowe to first baseman Spencer Horwitz. PIT 5, STL 4

  • B8

    Strikeout Ramón Urías strikes out swinging. PIT 5, STL 4

  • B8

    Lineout Nathan Church lines out to left fielder Bryan Reynolds. PIT 5, STL 4

  • B8

    Single José Fermín singles on a line drive to right fielder Jake Mangum. PIT 5, STL 4

  • T8

    Strikeout Nick Yorke strikes out swinging. PIT 5, STL 4

  • T8

    Groundout Spencer Horwitz grounds out, third baseman Ramón Urías to first baseman Alec Burleson. PIT 5, STL 4

  • T8

    Groundout Jake Mangum grounds out, second baseman José Fermín to first baseman Alec Burleson. PIT 5, STL 4

  • B7

    Flyout Nolan Gorman flies out to right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez. PIT 5, STL 4

  • B7

    Strikeout Jordan Walker strikes out swinging. PIT 5, STL 4

  • B7

    Walk Alec Burleson walks. PIT 5, STL 4

  • B7

    Double Iván Herrera doubles (24) on a fly ball to left fielder Bryan Reynolds. Thomas Saggese scores. PIT 5, STL 4

  • B7

    Sac Fly Bryan Torres out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Jake Mangum. Ramón Urías scores. PIT 5, STL 3

  • B7

    Single Thomas Saggese singles on a line drive to center fielder Jake Mangum. Ramón Urías to 3rd. PIT 5, STL 2

  • B7

    Walk Rafael Flores Jr. challenged (pitch result), call on the field was confirmed: Ramón Urías walks. PIT 5, STL 2

  • T7

    Strikeout Esmerlyn Valdez strikes out swinging. PIT 5, STL 2

  • T7

    Single Brandon Lowe singles on a sharp line drive to left fielder Bryan Torres. Oneil Cruz scores. Rafael Flores Jr. to 2nd. PIT 5, STL 2

  • T7

    Walk Rafael Flores Jr. walks. PIT 4, STL 2

  • T7

    Flyout Bryan Reynolds flies out to left fielder Bryan Torres. PIT 4, STL 2

  • T7

    Walk Iván Herrera challenged (pitch result), call on the field was confirmed: Oneil Cruz walks. PIT 4, STL 2

  • T7

    Strikeout Jared Triolo called out on strikes. PIT 4, STL 2

  • B6

    Strikeout Nathan Church strikes out swinging. PIT 4, STL 2

  • B6

    Pop Out José Fermín pops out to second baseman Brandon Lowe. PIT 4, STL 2

  • B6

    Flyout Nolan Gorman flies out sharply to right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez. PIT 4, STL 2

  • T6

    Strikeout Nick Yorke strikes out swinging. PIT 4, STL 2

  • T6

    Walk Spencer Horwitz walks. PIT 4, STL 2

  • T6

    Strikeout Jake Mangum called out on strikes. PIT 4, STL 2

  • T6

    Lineout Esmerlyn Valdez lines out to third baseman Ramón Urías. PIT 4, STL 2

  • B5

    Pop Out Jordan Walker pops out to first baseman Spencer Horwitz in foul territory. PIT 4, STL 2

  • B5

    Single Alec Burleson singles on a ground ball to right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez. Bryan Torres scores. Iván Herrera to 2nd. PIT 4, STL 2

  • B5

    Single Iván Herrera singles on a sharp line drive to center fielder Jake Mangum. Thomas Saggese scores. Bryan Torres to 2nd. PIT 4, STL 1

  • B5

    Walk Bryan Torres walks. Thomas Saggese to 2nd. PIT 4, STL 0

  • B5

    Single Thomas Saggese singles on a sharp line drive to left fielder Bryan Reynolds. PIT 4, STL 0

  • B5

    Groundout Ramón Urías grounds out sharply, third baseman Nick Yorke to first baseman Spencer Horwitz. PIT 4, STL 0

  • B5

    Groundout Nathan Church grounds out, second baseman Brandon Lowe to first baseman Spencer Horwitz. PIT 4, STL 0

  • T5

    Strikeout Brandon Lowe strikes out swinging. PIT 4, STL 0

  • T5

    Groundout Rafael Flores Jr. grounds out, third baseman Ramón Urías to first baseman Alec Burleson. Bryan Reynolds to 2nd. PIT 4, STL 0

  • T5

    Single Bryan Reynolds singles on a sharp line drive to left fielder Bryan Torres. PIT 4, STL 0

  • T5

    Flyout Oneil Cruz flies out to left fielder Bryan Torres. PIT 4, STL 0

  • T5

    Home Run Jared Triolo homers (3) on a fly ball to left field. PIT 4, STL 0

  • B4

    Strikeout José Fermín strikes out swinging. PIT 3, STL 0

  • B4

    Flyout Nolan Gorman flies out sharply to right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez in foul territory. PIT 3, STL 0

  • B4

    Groundout Jordan Walker grounds out sharply, third baseman Nick Yorke to first baseman Spencer Horwitz. PIT 3, STL 0

  • T4

    Flyout Nick Yorke flies out to center fielder Nathan Church. PIT 3, STL 0

  • T4

    Flyout Spencer Horwitz flies out to center fielder Nathan Church. PIT 3, STL 0

  • T4

    Strikeout Jake Mangum called out on strikes. PIT 3, STL 0

  • B3

    Flyout Alec Burleson flies out to center fielder Jake Mangum. PIT 3, STL 0

  • B3

    Groundout Iván Herrera grounds out, shortstop Jared Triolo to first baseman Spencer Horwitz. Thomas Saggese to 3rd. Bryan Torres to 2nd. PIT 3, STL 0

  • B3

    Single Bryan Torres singles on a ground ball to third baseman Nick Yorke. Thomas Saggese to 2nd. PIT 3, STL 0

  • B3

    Single Thomas Saggese singles on a line drive to right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez. PIT 3, STL 0

  • B3

    Strikeout Ramón Urías called out on strikes. PIT 3, STL 0

  • T3

    Groundout Esmerlyn Valdez grounds out, shortstop Thomas Saggese to first baseman Alec Burleson. PIT 3, STL 0

  • T3

    Field Error Brandon Lowe reaches on a fielding error by third baseman Ramón Urías. Oneil Cruz scores. PIT 3, STL 0

  • T3

    Strikeout Rafael Flores Jr. strikes out swinging. PIT 2, STL 0

  • T3

    Strikeout Iván Herrera challenged (pitch result), call on the field was overturned: Bryan Reynolds called out on strikes. PIT 2, STL 0

  • T3

    Double Oneil Cruz doubles (11) on a sharp line drive to center fielder Nathan Church. PIT 2, STL 0

  • B2

    Flyout Nathan Church flies out to right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez. PIT 2, STL 0

  • B2

    Flyout José Fermín flies out to center fielder Jake Mangum. PIT 2, STL 0

  • B2

    Groundout Nolan Gorman grounds out to first baseman Spencer Horwitz. PIT 2, STL 0

  • T2

    Strikeout Jared Triolo strikes out swinging. PIT 2, STL 0

  • T2

    Strikeout Nick Yorke strikes out swinging. PIT 2, STL 0

  • T2

    Strikeout Spencer Horwitz strikes out swinging. PIT 2, STL 0

  • T2

    Single Jake Mangum singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Matthew Liberatore. PIT 2, STL 0

  • T2

    Home Run Esmerlyn Valdez homers (16) on a fly ball to right field. Brandon Lowe scores. PIT 2, STL 0

  • T2

    Double Brandon Lowe doubles (27) on a sharp fly ball to left fielder Bryan Torres. PIT 0, STL 0

  • B1

    Strikeout Jordan Walker called out on strikes. PIT 0, STL 0

  • B1

    Groundout Alec Burleson grounds out, second baseman Brandon Lowe to first baseman Spencer Horwitz. Bryan Torres to 3rd. PIT 0, STL 0

  • B1

    Groundout Iván Herrera grounds out to pitcher Braxton Ashcraft. Bryan Torres to 2nd. PIT 0, STL 0

  • B1

    Single Bryan Torres singles on a line drive to left fielder Bryan Reynolds. PIT 0, STL 0

  • T1

    Flyout Rafael Flores Jr. flies out sharply to center fielder Nathan Church. PIT 0, STL 0

  • T1

    Strikeout Bryan Reynolds called out on strikes. PIT 0, STL 0

  • T1

    Forceout Oneil Cruz grounds into a force out, second baseman José Fermín to shortstop Thomas Saggese. Jared Triolo out at 2nd. Oneil Cruz to 1st. PIT 0, STL 0

  • T1

    Walk Jared Triolo walks. PIT 0, STL 0