It’s the Pittsburgh Pirates versus the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on May 21, 2026. Here’s how to watch live on TV.
- Time: 1:15 PM ET
- Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
- TV Channels: SportsNet Pittsburgh, MLB St. Louis Cardinals
- Streaming: ESPN Unlimited, Pittsburgh Pirates – MLB.TV, St. Louis Cardinals – MLB.TV
- League Package: MLB Extra Innings®
How to Watch Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals on May 21, 2026
You can watch the St. Louis Cardinals take on the Pittsburgh Pirates live on DIRECTV on ESPN Unlimited, Pittsburgh Pirates – MLB.TV, St. Louis Cardinals – MLB.TV, SportsNet Pittsburgh, MLB St. Louis Cardinals on May 21, 2026 at 1:15 PM ET.
Pittsburgh Pirates (25-24) at St. Louis Cardinals (28-20) — Game Preview
The Pirates head to Busch Stadium to face the Cardinals, with Pittsburgh bringing the better team ERA at 3.89 against a St. Louis staff sitting at 4.21. At the plate, the Pirates carry the higher team average at .252 compared with St. Louis’ .240, though the Cardinals have more pop with 55 home runs against Pittsburgh’s 50. The afternoon starter line favors the road side, where Braxton Ashcraft (2-2, 3.09 ERA) and his 1.05 WHIP across 55.1 innings go against Dustin May (3-4, 4.81 ERA, 1.42 WHIP). Oneil Cruz drives Pittsburgh’s offense with 33 RBIs and 10 home runs from center field, while Jordan Walker anchors the Cardinals lineup with a .296 average, 13 home runs and a .570 slugging mark. The Pirates have also outscored the Cardinals so far at 242 runs to 217, giving Pittsburgh the stronger run-production profile so far.
Regional Coverage
SportsNet Pittsburgh, MLB St. Louis Cardinals
Streaming
ESPN Unlimited, Pittsburgh Pirates – MLB.TV, St. Louis Cardinals – MLB.TV
League Packages
MLB Extra Innings®
What Time is the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Game Today?
The Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals game starts at 1:15 PM ET.
Where Can I Watch Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals?
You can watch Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals on ESPN Unlimited, Pittsburgh Pirates – MLB.TV, St. Louis Cardinals – MLB.TV, your local regional sports network, SportsNet Pittsburgh, MLB St. Louis Cardinals and MLB Extra Innings®.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals Channel on DIRECTV
SportsNet Pittsburgh (Channel 659), MLB St. Louis Cardinals (Channel 672)
Players to Watch: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Pittsburgh Pirates
Oneil Cruz — CF. Cruz leads the Pirates with 33 RBIs while hitting .259 with 10 home runs as the lineup’s primary run producer from center field. The dual threat of power and on-base production has made him a key piece of Pittsburgh’s offense.
Nick Gonzales — 3B. Hitting .319 with a .379 on-base percentage, Gonzales has been the most reliable contact bat in the Pirates lineup so far. His .363 slugging mark tells the story of a hitter built around average rather than over-the-fence pop.
Braxton Ashcraft — SP. Ashcraft is scheduled to start for Pittsburgh with a 2-2 record, 3.09 ERA and 56 strikeouts. His 1.05 WHIP gives the Pirates the stronger starter profile in this matchup.
St. Louis Cardinals
Jordan Walker — RF. Walker has been a leader of the St. Louis lineup, hitting .296 with 13 home runs and 34 RBIs while slugging .570 in right field. He pairs the team’s top power output with a .368 on-base percentage that keeps lines moving.
Alec Burleson — 1B. Burleson also has 34 RBIs to share the team lead, while hitting .286 with seven home runs as a steady source of contact at first base. His average is the highest among the Cardinals hitters in this matchup who carry meaningful power.
Dustin May — SP. May is scheduled to start for St. Louis with a 3-4 record, 4.81 ERA and 35 strikeouts. He’ll look to steady the Cardinals staff against a Pirates lineup hitting .252 as a team.
Injury Report: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Pittsburgh Pirates
Ryan O’Hearn (RF) — 10-day IL, right quadriceps strain
Jared Jones (SP) — 60-day IL, right elbow surgery
Joey Bart (C) — 10-day IL, left foot infection
Chris Devenski (RP) — 15-day IL, illness
St. Louis Cardinals
Ramon Urias (3B) — 10-day IL, right elbow tendinitis
Lars Nootbaar (LF) — 60-day IL, heel surgery
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