Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals – Where to Watch, Stream Info, TV Channel, and Live Updates (May 20, 2026)

Pittsburgh arrives in St. Louis having been shut out in back-to-back games, blanked twice by Philadelphia over the weekend to extend a four-game losing skid. The Pirates have gone 3-7 over their last ten, and the offense that looked capable of competing in April has gone quiet at the worst possible time. Against a Cardinals club that has won four of the five meetings between these teams this season, Pittsburgh needs something to change — fast.

St. Louis, meanwhile, has won six of its last ten and enters this series with momentum, even after being blanked itself on Sunday. Jordan Walker is the engine of this offense, hitting .299 with 13 home runs and 34 RBI, and Alec Burleson has been a steady presence at .283 with seven home runs and 34 RBI of his own. For Pittsburgh, Nick Gonzales (.314) and Bryan Reynolds (four home runs, 28 RBI) represent the best chance to wake up a lineup that has been dormant. This series opens with both rotations and both offenses carrying questions — which makes the first pitch as consequential as any this week.

Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals Game Information

Game Date: May 20, 2026
Game Time: 07:45 PM ET
TV Channel: SportsNet Pittsburgh, St. Louis Cardinals, MLB.TV – Pittsburgh Pirates
Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
Live Stream: Fubo (free trial)

Game Preview

The Cardinals hold a 4-0 advantage in the season series, having outscored Pittsburgh across four previous meetings by a combined margin that includes wins of 11-7 and 10-5. St. Louis sits at 28-19, half a game back in the division, and opens a stretch of four straight series against NL Central opponents — meaning every game carries internal weight. Pittsburgh at 24-24 is five games back, and a sweep here would make the gap feel considerably wider. The Pirates need to solve a team that has had their number all season.

St. Louis Cardinals Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 28-19
Home Record: 13-11
Away Record: 15-8
Division Record: 6-1
Streak: 1 Win streak
Winning Percentage: .596

Pittsburgh Pirates Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 24-24
Home Record: 13-13
Away Record: 11-11
Division Record: 9-8
Streak: 4 Loss streak
Winning Percentage: .500

Stat Leaders

St. Louis Cardinals (28-19, #2 in division)

Batting Average Leader: Jordan Walker, 0.299
RBI Leader: Jordan Walker, 34 RBI
Home Run Leader: Jordan Walker, 13 HR
Runs Leader: JJ Wetherholt, 35 Runs
Hits Leader: Jordan Walker, 53 Hits
Stolen Bases Leader: Jordan Walker, 7 SB
ERA Leader: Ryan Fernandez, 1.59 ERA
Strikeout Leader: Matthew Liberatore, 43 K
Wins Leader: Kyle Leahy, 5 W
Saves Leader: Riley O’Brien, 13 SV

Pittsburgh Pirates (24-24, #5 in division)

Batting Average Leader: Nick Gonzales, 0.314
RBI Leader: Oneil Cruz, 33 RBI
Home Run Leader: Brandon Lowe, 12 HR
Runs Leader: Oneil Cruz, 35 Runs
Hits Leader: Oneil Cruz, 51 Hits
Stolen Bases Leader: Oneil Cruz, 16 SB
ERA Leader: Wilber Dotel, 1.35 ERA
Strikeout Leader: Paul Skenes, 63 K
Wins Leader: Paul Skenes, 6 W
Saves Leader: Gregory Soto, 4 SV

What to Watch For

Jordan Walker is the player to watch in St. Louis. At .299 with 13 home runs, 34 RBI, and seven stolen bases, he has developed into one of the more complete offensive threats in the division. JJ Wetherholt’s 35 runs scored reflect how consistently he has been on base and in motion at the top of the order, and Michael McGreevy (2.10 ERA, three wins) gives the Cardinals a legitimate weapon on the mound if he takes the ball in this series.

For Pittsburgh, Oneil Cruz remains the most dynamic presence in the lineup — 33 RBI, 35 runs, 51 hits, and 16 stolen bases reflect a player operating at a high level even as the team around him has struggled. Konnor Griffin has also shown real promise, hitting .261 with 10 stolen bases and 20 RBI. With Ryan O’Hearn on the 10-day injured list with a quad injury and Joey Bart sidelined with a foot infection, Pittsburgh’s depth is being tested. That creates opportunity for players like Spencer Horwitz (.279, 20 RBI) to step into a larger role and deliver.

St. Louis Cardinals Injury Report

Ramón Urías – Elbow (D10) – The St. Louis Cardinals placed INF Ramón Urías on the 10-day injured list with right elbow lateral epicondylitis.
Masyn Winn – Calf (Day-to-Day) – Winn left Sunday’s (May. 17) game against the Royals due to left calf tightness.
Lars Nootbaar – Heels (D60) – The St. Louis Cardinals transferred OF Lars Nootbaar from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list due to ongoing complications from heel surgery.

Pittsburgh Pirates Injury Report

Jared Jones – Elbow (D60) – The Pittsburgh Pirates placed RHP Jared Jones on the 60-day injured list as he recovers from his surgery.
Ryan O’Hearn – Quad (D10) – The Pittsburgh Pirates placed OF Ryan O’Hearn on the 10-day injured list with a right quad strain.
Joey Bart – Foot Infection (D10) – The Pittsburgh Pirates placed C Joey Bart on the 10-day injured list.
Chris Devenski – Illness (D15) – The Pittsburgh Pirates placed RHP Chris Devenski on the 15-day injured list due to illness.

St. Louis Cardinals Upcoming 2026 Schedule

May 20, 2026 vs Pittsburgh Pirates
May 21, 2026 vs Pittsburgh Pirates
May 22, 2026 at Cincinnati Reds
May 23, 2026 at Cincinnati Reds
May 24, 2026 at Cincinnati Reds
May 25, 2026 at Milwaukee Brewers
May 26, 2026 at Milwaukee Brewers
May 27, 2026 at Milwaukee Brewers
May 29, 2026 vs Chicago Cubs
May 30, 2026 vs Chicago Cubs

Pittsburgh Pirates Upcoming 2026 Schedule

May 20, 2026 at St. Louis Cardinals
May 21, 2026 at St. Louis Cardinals
May 22, 2026 at Toronto Blue Jays
May 23, 2026 at Toronto Blue Jays
May 24, 2026 at Toronto Blue Jays
May 25, 2026 vs Chicago Cubs
May 26, 2026 vs Chicago Cubs
May 27, 2026 vs Chicago Cubs
May 28, 2026 vs Chicago Cubs
May 29, 2026 vs Minnesota Twins

Our game previews are produced programmatically using real-time data via Sportradar and AI writing tools. Articles are regularly reviewed for accuracy before publication.