Cards - Bucs

Today's Game - Vance Worley (2-2, 3.90) faces Carlos Martinez (3-0, 3.64). Vanimal is 0-0 with a 4.03 ERA against the Cardinals in four career starts. He gave up one run in six innings against the Cardinals in his previous start last Sunday. Martinez is 0-1 with a 4.41 ERA against the Pirates in 10 career games, mostly as a reliever, but has been a road warrior this year, with a 1.29 ERA in his away starts. The game starts at 7:05 and will be aired on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

Vance Worley (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

• Starling Marte has gone 10-for-25 in his last six games and recorded his second three-hit game of the year last night.
• Don't tell Marte: Neil Walker has been hit by a pitch a team-leading four times this season and 39 times in his career with the Pirates.
• Another thing to watch - though the Bucs had their hitting shoes on yesterday, they failed to draw a walk for the 11th time this season. In 2013-14, they only had 14 games total without a free pass. 
• The Pirates have lost seven straight games to St. Louis since winning for the last time on 8/27/14 at PNC Park.
• .The Bucs have gone 9-14 in the first 23 games against their divisional rivals (6-5 at home), 1-9 against St. Louis and Cincinnati.

The free Kang folk got their wish.