Pirates hope struggles vs. southpaws don’t carry into next season

PITTSBURGH — No team has performed worse against left-handed starters this season than the Pirates. Luckily for Pittsburgh, Wednesday marked what appears to be the final matchup versus a lefty starter in 2026. Southpaw Matthew Liberatore delivered one final nail in the coffin for the Pirates as they lost 5-1 to the Cardinals, ending a five-game winning streak. Pittsburgh tallied just six hits and one run off Liberatore in 5 2/3 innings. Dollar Dog Game is Thursday for Pirates final home game of the season! With four right-handed opponents across the final four games, Pittsburgh concluded the campaign batting .229…