Cardinals shut out 5-0 by Pirates on July 3, 2025, extending a historic scoreless streak. With Contreras & Arenado out, can St. Louis fix their offense?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
There are bad losses, there are frustrating series, and then there's what just happened in Pittsburgh. For the third consecutive game, the St. Louis Cardinals failed to score a single run, culminating in a 5-0 loss that sealed a sweep at the hands of the Pirates. It’s not just a slump; it’s a historic collapse that has fans and the front office alike searching for answers.
A franchise record 49 consecutive scoreless innings against NL Central opponents.
Wednesday's finale was a painful microcosm of the entire series. Pirates starter Mitch Keller carved up the lineup for seven innings, while the Cardinals' bats went a dismal 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position, stranding 10 men on base. Even a strong outing from Sonny Gray wasn't enough. Gray was cruising, retiring 14 straight batters at one point, but the lack of any run support put him in an impossible position. He eventually faltered in the eighth, taking the loss and seeing his ERA tick up to 3.51. When your ace gives you 7.1 innings and you can't muster a single run, the problems run deep.
It's impossible to ignore the gaping holes in the lineup. The Cardinals were without two of their biggest sluggers, as Willson Contreras sat with a bruised left wrist—a painful souvenir from a 99-mph Paul Skenes fastball—and Nolan Arenado was sidelined with a jammed right middle finger. While Alec Burleson filled in, you can't just replace the presence of Contreras and Arenado. The good news? An off-day on Thursday gives both players a crucial two days to heal before the team heads to Wrigley Field. Their return can't come soon enough.
While the offense is the immediate five-alarm fire, the front office seems to be looking at the bigger picture. With the trade deadline looming, reports have linked the Cardinals to Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly. St. Louis currently ranks a lowly 26th in rotation strikeout rate, and adding a veteran arm like Kelly could be the move that shores up the pitching staff for a second-half push. His affordable contract makes him an attractive piece to pair with Sonny Gray, signaling that despite the current skid, the team still has playoff aspirations.
For fans needing a break from the big-league woes, the farm system offers a glimmer of long-term hope. In a recent ranking, Bleacher Report placed the Cardinals' system at a respectable No. 15 in MLB. The future holds promise with prospects like infielder JJ Wetherholt, who is already showing pop at Double-A Springfield, and high-ceiling pitcher Lin, a 23-year-old arm who projects as a potential mid-rotation starter down the road. While their big-league debuts are still a few years away, it’s a reminder that the talent pipeline is still flowing.
The team now gets a desperately needed day off to lick its wounds and, hopefully, find its swing. They'll need it. A weekend series against the rival Cubs at Wrigley Field awaits, and the pressure has never been higher. Can the Cardinals snap this historic scoreless streak? Will their injured stars return to provide a spark? The next 72 hours will tell us a lot about the character and resilience of this 2025 squad.
