Jordan Walker and the Cards gain confidence ahead of the final against the Pirates

The St. Louis Cardinals are using the final games of their disappointing season to gain a head start for next season.

Among the players receiving special attention is outfielder Jordan Walker, who hit a three-run double to help the Cardinals to a 10-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.

The Cardinals (77-75) will try to complete a four-game sweep in the final game of the series on Thursday night in St. Louis.

During a five-game hitting streak, Walker is 5-for-15 with two walks, two doubles, two home runs and six RBIs.

Walker spent most of the season at Triple-A Memphis after opening the season at St. Louis with a 9-for-58 loss. But in September, he has a .271 batting average and an .897 OPS.

“That's the confidence we're talking about with Jordan. He's able to continue to create those game-changing moments that he can draw on in the future,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said.

“This game is tough, man, especially at this level when you're trying to make adjustments at the highest level. Being able to do what he's doing right now is going to help him in the long run.”

The Cardinals will return right-hander Erick Fedde (8-9, 3.45 ERA) for Thursday's game. Since arriving in a trade from the Chicago White Sox before the deadline, he has a 1-5 record with a 4.43 ERA in eight starts.

In his last appearance on Friday against Toronto, Fedde allowed three runs on six hits in five innings in a game the Blue Jays won 4-3 in 11 innings. He managed three strikeouts and a walk while receiving a no decision.

Fedde has not faced the Pirates this season. In two career games against them, he is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA.

The Pirates (71-81) will look to stop the trend after losing five of their last six games.

“Sometimes we're just one hit or one pitch away,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said in the midst of this crisis. “We have to find a way to get that hit or make that pitch.”

The Pirates will start Thursday with right-hander Luis Ortiz (6-6, 3.45 ERA), who allowed seven runs (four earned) on five hits – including two home runs – in four innings in an 8-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Friday.

In his last two starts in August, Ortiz allowed just five hits in 12 scoreless innings. He had 10 strikeouts and four walks.

Then, in his first two starts in September, Ortiz allowed 11 runs (seven earned) in 9 2/3 innings.

Ortiz made one appearance as a relief pitcher against the Cardinals earlier this year, recording four strikeouts and allowing one run on three hits in two innings. In four career appearances (three starts) against St. Louis, he is 0-2 with a 14.63 ERA.

Both teams made changes to their squad members ahead of Wednesday's game.

The Cardinals placed starting pitcher Lance Lynn on the 15-day injured list because of inflammation in his right knee and recalled Michael McGreevy from Triple-A Memphis. McGreevy earned the win Wednesday after recording four strikeouts in three scoreless innings.

The Pirates placed reliever Kyle Nicolas on the injured list because of a back problem, and infielder/outfielder Oneil Cruz was again out of the starting lineup on Wednesday because of ankle soreness.

–Field level media