ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½

Fedde and the Cardinals open a three-game series at PNC Park against the Pirates at 5:40 p.m. (ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ time) on Monday.

The right-hander Fedde (3-7, 4.11 ERA), in one of his worst starts as a member of the Cardinals, gave up seven earned runs and failed to complete the fourth inning last time out, vs. the Chicago Cubs.

The good news is that one of Fedde's best starts of the season came against Pittsburgh, six no-hit innings in April.

That plus the fact that Pittsburgh's offense ranks as the second-worst in baseball by most metrics, and things are looking up for Fedde.

The Pirates have scored two or fewer runs in 44% of their games to date.

In the last week, however, the Pirates have been swinging hot bats, tallying 30 runs in a three-game sweep of the Mets over the weekend. Pittsburgh has scored eight or more runs in four of their last seven games, something the Pirates had only done seven times all season before this recent offensive surge.

Against Fedde this season, opposing batters are hitting the ball much harder, about 2 mph faster on average, and his rate of barreled balls allowed has increased from 7.6% last year to 9% in 2025.

Despite the decline, his performance has been better than predictive stats forecast. Batters are hitting .243 against him, but Fedde's expected batting average of .287 is in the bottom 10% of baseball.

Last season, Fedde's cutter and sinker both rated as plus pitches, while this year they're below average.

Walks have also bitten Fedde. His 10.2% walk rate would be the second worst in his career if the season ended today.

The Pirates will start left-hander Andrew Heaney (3-7, 4.48 ERA) who hasn't started against ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ while a member of the Pirates. In three previous starts vs. the Redbirds while he was with three other teams, Heaney has an 11.57 ERA.

While the Cardinals are 15-15 this season in games started by lefties, they've lost five of eight.

The Cardinals, winners of six straight road games after sweeping Cleveland this past weekend, are 47-38, third in the National League Central and 2 1/2 games behind the Cubs.

Pittsburgh is 35-50, last in the division. The Pirates took two of three from ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ in the Cardinals' other trip to Pittsburgh this season.

How to watch Cardinals at Pirates

When: 5:40 p.m. Monday

Where: PNC Park in Pittsburgh

TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest (); KMOX (1120 AM and 104.1 FM), other stations in the as well as .

Your options to watch: Input your ZIP code and see your choices for watching Cardinals games.

Lineups

CARDINALS

1. Brendan Donovan, LF

2. Masyn Winn, SS

3. Alec Burleson, RF

4. Willson Contreras, 1B

5. Nolan Arenado, DH

6. Nolan Gorman, 3B

7. Thomas Saggese, 2B

8. Pedro Pagés, C

9. Victor Scott II, CF

P: Erick Fedde, RHP

PIRATES

1. Spencer Horwitz, 1B

2. Andrew McCutchen, DH

3. Bryan Reynolds, RF

4. Nick Gonzales, 2B

5. Oneil Cruz, CF

6. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B

7. Tommy Pham, LF

8. Joey Bart, C

9. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, SS

P: Andrew Heaney, LHP

Injury report

Nolan Arenado, 3B (swollen right hand): Cardinals Gold Glove-winning infielder was able to take batting practice and go through his pre-game routine without limitations. He is in the lineup Monday against the Pirates, but manager Oliver Marmol said that was pending a conversation after the workouts to see how the hand responded. He was moved to DH after that discussion. Updated June 30

Lars Nootbaar, OF (ribcage pain): The plan at PNC Park on Monday afternoon was for Nootbaar to participate in batting practice and then meet with the training staff and the manager to determine the likelihood he would be available to play Tuesday. Rain washed out BP for the Cardinals, moving that workout and those discussions indoors with no resolution expected before game time Monday. Nootbaar is almost a week removed from an anti-inflammatory injection that required 48 hours of inactivity. Updated June 30

Jordan Walker, OF (appendicitis): Walker began a rehab assignment on Saturday and collected one hit in four at-bats while hitting from Class AAA Memphis’s designated hitter spot. He reportedly came out of the game fine and was slated to start in right field for Memphis on Sunday. Walker, who received a nonsurgical treatment for appendicitis, was sent to the hospital on Tuesday night and spent the night there before returning home the next morning. During his rehab assignment, the Cardinals want to see how Walker’s body responds to increased activity. If all goes well, Walker is expected to be ready to come off the injured list when he is eligible to do so on July 3. Updated June 29

Ivan Herrera, C/DH (left hamstring strain): Herrera has started doing some workouts on the field and in the weight room to ease into his recovery from a slightly torn hamstring string. He has not been inactive since the event. He felt a "pull" in his hamstring while running the bases June 19 during a game vs. the White Sox. He is expected to miss anywhere from two-to-six weeks with a Grade 2 strain in his left hamstring and went on the injured list on June 20. Updated June 26

Zack Thompson, LHP (shoulder, lat strain): Lefty starter has begun a throwing program designed to strengthen his arm after a long stretch without much activity. The shoulder has responded well and Thompson has felt progress with this program, which had to be restarted because his recovery stalled in May. There is no timetable for his return to the mound. Updated June 19