What happened: Pittsburgh Pirates starter Paul Skenes reached 200 strikeouts for the season during Thursday's matchup. He becomes the first Pittsburgh pitcher to post consecutive 200-strikeout campaigns since Bob Veale accomplished the feat from 1964 to 1966.
Why it matters: The milestone places the pitcher in rare franchise company, arriving on what was reported to be his final pitch of 2026. Pittsburgh entered the day with a 76-75 record.
By the numbers: The series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates is tied 1-1.
What to watch: Pittsburgh will conclude its regular season schedule over the coming days.