The week ahead
at Cardinals
7:45 p.m. Monday (SN PIT)
7:45 p.m. Tuesday (SN PIT)
1:15 p.m. Wednesday (SN PIT)
• The Pirates and Cardinals meet for their second series of 2025 to begin the upcoming week. The Pirates took two of three in Pittsburgh from April 7-9. Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan is off to a scorching start at the plate, leading St. Louis with a .336 batting average through 28 games, which ranks him among the top 10 in baseball. Donovan, who also plays left field and shortstop, also leads his club in hits and slugging percentage.
vs. Braves
6:40 p.m. Friday (Apple TV )
4:05 p.m. Saturday (SN PIT)
1:35 p.m. Sunday (SN PIT)
• The Braves have navigated the season without star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., who has been sidelined as he recovers from ACL surgery last June. Acuna, 27, is the reigning NL MVP, having slashed .337/.416/.596 with 41 homers and 106 RBIs in 159 games last year. The four-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger winner is expected to return to action sometime in May, although particulars remain cloudy as Acuna stays on the injured list and prepares for a rehab assignment in the minor leagues. However, Acuna is guaranteed to miss an additional three games from whatever point he is deemed ready to rejoin the Braves. That comes as a result of a three-game suspension the Braves issued him on April 20, after Acuna took to social media X and publicly criticized manager Brian Snitker. Acuna took exception to a play April 19 vs. the Minnesota Twins when Braves outfielder Jarred Kelenic wasn’t reprimanded for an apparent lack of hustle into second base after a hit which he presumed was a home run did not, in fact, leave the yard. “If it were me, they would take me out of the game,” Acuna posted before eventually deleting.