2025-08-25 Pirates at Cardinals Matchup Preview

Starting Pitcher Matchup

Johan Oviedo takes the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates, while Michael McGreevy will be pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals. Oviedo will try to leverage his repertoire against a Cardinals lineup that will be trying to find advantages to exploit.

Pittsburgh Pirates Hitting Analysis

The Pittsburgh Pirates enter this game with a team age of 28, indicating a blend of veteran experience and youthful potential in their batting order. Their overall offensive output shows they can be a tough team to get through. Looking at their plate discipline, it's important to look at the swinging strike percentage of 9.8%, a solid indicator of their ability to make contact and keep at-bats alive. With that swing rate, they need to be able to put the ball in play and get on base.

When analyzing how they hit the ball, the average fly ball distance of 306 feet offers insight into their power potential, suggesting they have the ability to drive the ball and generate extra-base hits when they make solid contact. The ground ball to fly ball ratio, valued at 1.11, suggests that the Pirates hitters produce slightly more ground balls than fly balls. With that said, they need to make sure that they can get runners in scoring position and capitalize.

Against McGreevy, the Pirates hitters will need to focus on being selective at the plate and capitalizing on any mistakes. Their ability to put the ball in play, as indicated by their swinging strike percentage, will be crucial in extending innings and putting pressure on the Cardinals' defense. Oviedo will need all the run support he can get from this offense.

St. Louis Cardinals Hitting Analysis

The St. Louis Cardinals boast a team that is also 28 years old, suggesting that they will also have a blend of experienced veterans and eager young players. Their offensive strength is shown in their overall offensive production, making them a dangerous team. Their success will hinge on how they can attack Oviedo.

Their swinging strike percentage of 9.3% indicates a solid ability to make contact and avoid easy outs. It's clear that the Cardinals are disciplined. The Cardinals' average fly ball distance of 306 feet mirrors that of the Pirates, indicating similar power potential in their lineup and the ability to drive the ball with authority. Their ground ball to fly ball ratio of 1.01 suggests a balanced approach, with a slight tendency to produce ground balls but still capable of generating fly balls and extra-base hits. Their weighted on-base average illustrates the quality of contact and ability to get on base. To put the Pirates away, they will need to capitalize.

Facing Oviedo, the Cardinals hitters will aim to be aggressive early in the count and capitalize on any hittable pitches. Their ability to make consistent contact, as evidenced by their swinging strike percentage, will be critical in putting the ball in play and creating opportunities. Oviedo is going to have to work hard to get past this team.

Pitching Matchup and Prediction

This game shapes up to be a tightly contested affair. Oviedo's effectiveness will depend on his ability to locate his pitches and keep the Cardinals hitters off balance, while McGreevy will look to exploit the Pirates' aggressiveness by mixing his pitches and inducing weak contact. The team that can execute their game plan more effectively on the mound will have a significant advantage.

Given the Cardinals' slightly higher weighted on-base average and ability to get on base, they could have an advantage in generating run-scoring opportunities. However, the Pirates' swinging strike percentage suggests they have the ability to put the ball in play and extend innings, making them a dangerous opponent.

The Cardinals' ground ball to fly ball ratio suggests a balanced approach, while the Pirates' similar number indicate they can get the ball in the air. The team that can adjust their approach based on the game situation and capitalize on scoring opportunities will likely come out on top.

Ultimately, the game will be decided by which team can execute their game plan more effectively on the mound and at the plate. Oviedo and McGreevy will need to be sharp, and the hitters will need to be selective and aggressive in their approach.

The team's age of 28 shows that both teams have what it takes to compete and have that mix of experience and youth to fight for the win.

Pirates 4 Cardinals 3