Ponce de Leon (1-0, 1.99 earned-run average) has been solid in a variety of roles this season with the Cardinals. In his last appearance, an emergency start last Friday, he threw 6 2/3 innings and allowed three hits and one run in a game that was eventually lost 4-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ponce de Leon fanned seven and walked no one in that game.
The Pirates will counter with righthander Chris Archer, who's 3-6 with a 5.42 ERA. He's coming off a solid effort in his second-half debut, striking out a season-high 10 in a 4-3 loss to the Cubs in Chicago.