The Cardinals wrap up a road series Thursday, Independence Day, against the Pirates. First pitch is set for 11:35 a.m.
The teams split the first two, with the Pirates winning in 10 innings on Wednesday night.
Right-hander Andre Pallante (4-3, 4.50) will take the mound for the Cardinals. Pallante blanked the Reds in 5⅓ innings in his last start.
He has a 3.86 ERA in six games as a starter this year.
Right-handers are hitting .356 vs. Pallante this season.
The Pirates will counter with left-hander Martin Perez (1-4, 5.28), in his first year in the National League after spending his first 12 seasons with three AL teams.
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Perez is making his second start since missing a month with a groin strain, and that first start from the injured list did not go well. He gave up six runs in four innings vs. Atlanta.
St. Louis sports a .615 team OPS vs. lefties, second-lowest in baseball, but the Cardinals are 12-10 in games started by left-handers.
The Cardinals are 44-41, second in the NL Central and seven games out of first. St. Louis has won seven of its last 11.
The Pirates are 41-44, third in the NL Central. The Pirates have won their last three series played in PNC Park against the Cardinals.
St. Louis next heads to Washington for four against the Nationals.
Lineups
CARDINALS
Masyn Winn (R) SS
Alec Burleson (L) RF
Willson Contreras (R) DH
Paul Goldschmidt (R) 1B
Nolan Arenado (R) 3B
Brendan Donovan (L) LF
Dylan Carlson (S) CF
José Fermín (R) 2B
Pedro Pagés (R) C
P: Andre Pallante, RHP
PIRATES
Andrew McCutchen (R) DH
Bryan Reynolds (S) LF
Oneil Cruz (L) SS
Connor Joe (R) RF
Rowdy Tellez (L) 1B
Nick Gonzales (R) 2B
Ke'Bryan Hayes (R) 3B
Jack Suwinski (L) CF
Yasmani Grandal (S) C
P: Martín Pérez, LHP
Injury report
Lars Nootbaar (oblique strain): Nootbaar will continue a rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield that he began on Friday. On Tuesday, he played all nine innings for the first time. Nootbaar told reporters he'd likely play in six rehab games before being able to come off the injured list. Updated July 3
Tommy Edman (wrist surgery): Edman rejoined the team to continue his rehab in St. Louis last week after he spent time at the club's spring training complex in Jupiter, Florida. He took batting practice on the field on Tuesday, when he suffered a 'relatively mild' sprained ankle. He took swings on Friday, and he came out of that feeling good. He will not return to Florida when the team heads out on the road next week. He could join a minor-league affiliate in the coming week, depending on how he recovers from activity this weekend. Updated June 29
Ivan Herrera (lower back tightness): Herrera was placed on the 10-day IL ahead of a June 22 game against the Giants. Herrera said his back locked up while picking up his bag coming off the bus in Birmingham, Alabama. He will begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday with Triple-A Memphis. He's expected to catch five innings. Updated July 3
Riley O'Brien (flexor tendon): The right-hander was slated to pitch for Double-A Springfield on June 18, however he had trouble bouncing back from his last outing. O'Brien was sent for an MRI, which came back clean. He resumed a throwing program. There is not set date for when he could pitch in a rehab game. Updated June 24
Steven Matz (lower back stiffness): Matz received clearance to being throwing on Thursday after suffering a setback in his rehab process that prevented him from throwing for two weeks. Matz will need another full progression to work his way back to the mound. He experienced lingering soreness the morning following a June rehab outing, leading to a lengthy setback. Cardinals manager Oli Marmol said the best-case scenario is a four-to-six week recovery time for Matz. Updated July 3