St. Louis @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 3, 2018 ) Pittsburgh 0, St. Louis 5

The Pittsburgh Pirates declared that they were still in the postseason race and intended to make the playoffs this season with the moves they made in front of Tuesday's trade deadline, and those moves are about to take shape. Chris Archer will make his Pittsburgh debut when the Pirates host the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.

Pittsburgh traded away a pair of talented young players in right-hander Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Austin Meadows to bring back Archer, who is under team control through the 2021 season, and is hoping he can help the team make up some ground in a crowded National League Central and wild card race. "Having your name floated around is tough, but from hearing the way these guys talk about me and what they've told me, this is for now and for the future," Archer told reporters. "The future looks very, very bright here. I'm excited to be a part of it, and I'm excited to be playing meaningful baseball again." The Cardinals are playing meaningful baseball as well and brought themselves into a tie for third place in the NL Central with the Pirates by winning 3-2 on Thursday over the Colorado Rockies when Jose Martinez came off the bench and delivered a walk-off, two-run single. While Archer toes the rubber for the Pirates on Friday, St. Louis is expected to counter with right-hander John Gant.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH John Gant (3-4, 3.49 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Chris Archer (3-5, 4.31)

Gant spent the last few months bouncing between the rotation and the bullpen but will be making his second consecutive start on Friday. The 25-year-old worked 4 1/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday and was reached for three runs - two earned - on four hits and a pair of walks to suffer the loss. Gant made a start at Pittsburgh on May 25 and struck out a season high-tying seven over 5 1/3 frames but was saddled with a loss after yielding three runs.

Archer allowed three or fewer earned runs in each of his last eight starts for Tampa Bay but joins the Pirates off a loss after surrendering three earned runs and seven hits over six innings at Baltimore last Friday. The North Carolina native last earned a win on May 17 at the Los Angeles Angels but struck out a season-high 13 in his last outing versus an NL opponent - July 22 against Miami. Archer is making his second career start against the Cardinals and is 6-9 with a 3.29 ERA in 21 starts versus NL opponents.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cardinals OF Marcell Ozuna (toe) left Thursday's game and is day-to-day.

2. Pirates LHP Felipe Vazquez was named the NL's reliever of the month for July on Thursday.

3. Pittsburgh RHP Keone Kela is expected to be in uniform on Friday after being acquired from the Texas Rangers.

PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Cardinals 4