Paul Skenes continues to struggle against the St. Louis Cardinals, falling to 0-4 in his career starts against them after a narrow 2-1 loss. Despite a solid pitching performance, allowing just two runs over six innings, Skenes was undone by a key mistake to Alec Burleson, who hit a decisive two-run double. The Pirates' offense, lacking consistency, provided minimal run support, which has been a recurring issue for Skenes, who has received only three runs across five starts against St. Louis.

Burleson, now 6 for 15 against Skenes, has proven to be a troublesome matchup for the rookie. He emphasized the importance of having a strategic approach when facing a pitcher like Skenes. Pirates manager Derek Shelton acknowledged the team's struggle to generate offense, stating they have been experimenting with various lineups without success. This loss marks the Pirates' sixth consecutive defeat and ninth in their last ten games.