ST. LOUIS — Looking ahead to first pitch …

Game: Pirates (65-45) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (72-40), 8:15 p.m., Busch Stadium

Pitchers: RHP Gerrit Cole (14-5, 2.39) vs. RHP Michael Wacha (13-4, 2.92)

TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan

Online: Gameday | Multimedia | Media notes

Pregame notes: 5:39 p.m.: There’s serious, there’s serious-as-a-heart-attack, and then there’s however one would describe the Pirates’ mood down there just now. Beyond intense. Deathly silent. Guys sitting at stalls just staring. Ick. … Neil Walker, who was among the most tightly wound after the game last night, was now among the few smiling a little. “It’s a big game,” he said. “We know that.” Sure is. If the Pirates lose this one, they’re guaranteed to leave here at least six games back. And it could be eight. Overcoming that is asking quite a bit in mid-August. … Jared Hughes has “zero” lingering effects from that 98-mph liner by Stephen Piscotty that came right at his face last night. Fortunately, Hughes was able to raise his glove in time to redirect the ball, and it “just grazed my face.” Still, scary stuff. “Oh, don’t think I didn’t say an extra prayer when I went to bed,” he said. … Jung Ho Kang is supposed to be getting tired, right? Clint Hurdle has talked since spring training of the need to regulate his usage, given Korea’s 130-game schedule and all that. But Kang is now batting a ridiculous .363 — 29 for 80 — since the All-Star break, seventh among all National Leaguers and tops among all rookies in the majors. I asked Hurdle, yet again, if he’s still worried about Kang getting tired: “I think he has days where he looks energetic. I think there are still days where the sting of the season on the field does take away from his legs a little bit. We’re going through a 20-game stretch right now where we’ll have to look at times to get him off his feet. Most of these guys are probably going to need a day. It’s 20 straight. But he’s definitely built up his strength, his resiliency, and I think he’s in a good place.” … Gregory Polanco, now at .303 with three home runs and 12 extra-base hits in 22 games since the break, when I asked if he’s still locked in on the outer half of the plate: “One half! That’s it!” He smiled, too, but this was out of the clubhouse. … Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer each were given off today by Class AAA Indianapolis after opening their rehab stints last night with seven innings each.

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