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PITTSBURGH — Before moving up to hitting leadoff Tuesday night to be the first Cardinals hitter to face Pirates ace Paul Skenes, Victor Scott II had some experience to pull from in what marked his second career start as a leadoff hitter in the majors.

He also brought a refreshed mentality to find what it takes to hit from the No. 1 spot.

“I’ve been there before, but just because it’s whoever is out there on that mound, it doesn’t necessarily matter,� Scott, who batted .303 as primarily a leadoff hitter while in Class High-A and Class AA in 2023, said Wednesday morning. “That guy is a guy who’s trying to get me out, and my job is to not make outs.

“That’s kind of like the mindset I’ve had to start this year to be able to go in and not really pay attention to who’s on the mound but just understand my approach, my plan and then go about it in that way. Rather the distraction of who’s on the mound or the leadoff spot or where I am in the order — none of that matters. All that matters is, how am I going to attack whoever is on that mound in that given day?�

With a start from the leadoff spot as Cardinals regular leadoff hitter Lars Nootbaar was given a regular rest day, Scott had two hits in five at-bats, drove in two runs and scored a run. Scott’s two hits included a triple off Skenes that gave the Cardinals their first two runs in a 5-3 win at PNC Park. The triple was the first of his major league career. He doubled off Skenes in the seventh inning on a line drive that landed in left field.

Scott improved to a .297 batting average, .372 on-base percentage and .858 on-base plus slugging percentage through his first 10 games of 2025. He’s collected 11 hits in 37 at-bats after totaling 26 in 145 at-bats as a rookie in 2024.

“Obviously the speed helps, but he’s taking really good at-bats,� Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said of Scott on Tuesday night. “The way he’s game-planning has been really good to see, and there’s a lot of growth there compared to last year. He understands what the opposition is trying to do to him, and he’s been able to combat it well. Executing his plan has been good.�

The triple and double gave the 24-year-old a chance to display the speed that aided him to 94 stolen bases as a minor leaguer in 2023.

“It’s just the ability to get moving and know that that ball is supposed to be a double and that ball is supposed to be a triple when it’s off my bat,� Scott said Tuesday night. “I guess that’s kind of the testament to not breaking stride.�

It also provided him with a night that he could build upon in his second year as a major leaguer.

“Any moment in general, whether that be the minor leagues, major league or college is a moment to build off of and grow from,� Scott said before starting in center field and batting eighth in Wednesday’s series finale.

Matz’s usage

In his third relief outing of the season, Steven Matz provided the Cardinals with 1 1/3 scoreless innings on 16 pitches, 10 of which were strikes. The left-hander did not allow a hit. The only batter to reach against him was Oneil Cruz, who was hit by a pitch.

The outing was Matz’s briefest this season. He provided four innings March 30 against Minnesota and three innings Friday at Boston.

Ahead of Wednesday’s series finale vs. the Pirates, Marmol said the brief outing by the left-hander and how he felt after playing catch during Wednesday’s pregame would provide a better indication of how quickly he can be available between relief appearances.

The Cardinals’ plan is to keep Matz available from the bullpen up until “about� April 11 or April 12 to give him “necessary rest� before he moves into the rotation in a start April 16 — a move that will give the Cardinals a six-man starting staff.

Marmol said the club does not plan to add another reliever who can provide length once Matz prepares to join the starting rotation.

“No. ... We just have to cover (innings),� Marmol said.

Prospect Davis belts 2 HRs

While batting from Class AA Springfield’s leadoff spot Tuesday night in Amarillo, Texas, Cardinals prospect and former first-round pick Chase Davis belted a solo home run and a two-run homer as a part of a three-hit night that also included a double.

The performance marked the first multi-homer game of his professional career for the 23-year-old.

Davis’s solo home run came in the third inning and broke a 1-1 tie between Springfield (Missouri) and Amarillo, the Diamondbacks’ Class AA affiliate. His two-run shot padded a lead for Springfield in its 16-7 road win.

Through four games to begin the season in Class AA, Davis has six hits in 13 at-bats and has reached base three times via walks. This season marks Davis’ second in Class AA after the 2023 MLB draft pick reached the level last September. He received time in big league camp as a non-roster invitee this past spring training.