Cardinals Limit Kyle Leahy's Innings as He Prepares to Face Pirates

Kyle Leahy, a right-handed pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, is having a strong season, but the team is restricting his innings to protect his future. He is set to make his 26th start against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second game of a three-game series.

In the series opener, the Cardinals secured a 4-1 victory, aided by rookie pitcher Quinn Mathews, who earned his first major league win after allowing one run and striking out seven over 5 2/3 innings. This performance provided relief for the bullpen ahead of Leahy's start.

Leahy has pitched 126 1/3 innings this season, his highest since 2022. He has a 1.93 ERA against the Pirates over the past two seasons. The Pirates, struggling to regain their earlier form, are looking to improve after making three errors in the previous game. Lake Bachar will start for the Pirates, with Carmen Mlodzinski expected to follow.