Pirates' Losing Streak Reaches Seven Games After Cardinals Sweep

The Pittsburgh Pirates' struggles continued as they were swept by the St. Louis Cardinals, culminating in a 5-0 loss on Wednesday that marked their seventh straight defeat and tenth in the past eleven games. Despite a quality start from Mitch Keller, the Pirates' offense faltered, managing only four hits and being shut out for the eighth time this season—the most in Major League Baseball. The Cardinals, led by Sonny Gray's seven dominant innings, returned to a .500 record and extended their winning streak to five games. Offensive woes have plagued the Pirates, as highlighted in their 2-1 loss on Tuesday despite a strong outing from Paul Skenes, who continues to receive minimal run support. Pittsburgh's team batting average, on-base percentage, and OPS all rank near the bottom of the league, while their pitching has been serviceable but unsupported by consistent offense. The Pirates now head home searching for answers as their season spirals further out of control.