Pirates

Pirates Preview: Can Marco Gonzales Continue Hot Start?

Published

2 weeks ago

April 13, 2024

After falling to the Philadelphia Phillies in the series opener on Thursday, the Pittsburgh Pirates returned the favor with a 5-2 win on Friday night.

Facing his former team, Bailey Falter limited the Phillies to just one run across five innings pitched, giving him back-to-back solid starts. David Bednar, who blew three of his first four save opportunities to begin the season, closed the door with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday at Citizens Bank for the third matchup in this four-game series.

First pitch on Saturday is set for 4:05 ET and the game will be televised on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

Cloudy skies should give way to some sunshine for first pitch. Temperatures in the upper-50s with fairly heavy winds blowing WNW.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out LHP Marco Gonzales (0-0, 2.45 ERA)

Gonzales’ tenure with the Pirates couldn’t have gotten off to a much better starts. Through two starts, the veteran left-hander has limited the opposition to a .562 OPS.

In his last start against the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park, Gonzales allowed two runs on five hits in six innings pitched. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out four.

Gonzales has made only one previous start against the Phillies and it was a good one. He held Philadelphia to one run in five innings pitched and earned the win.

The Philadelphia Phillies Will Send Out RHP Spencer Turnbull (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Though Gonzales’ start with the Pirates has been excellent, Turnbull’s tenure with the Phillies has been just about perfect.

Through a pair of starts to begin the year, Turnbull has not allowed a single run in 11 innings pitched. The right-hander has struck out 13, walked one and has yielded just five hits.

In three career starts against the Pirates, Turnbull has been virtually untouchable. Across 18 innings, the Pirates have scored three runs (two earned) on nine hits. Turnbull has not taken the loss in any of his three starts against Pittsburgh and has a 2-0 record.

Phillies Hitters vs. Gonzales

Whit Merrifield: 6 for 18, one triple, one home run, two RBIs, two strikeouts
Nick Castellanos: 3 for 9, one double, one strikeout
Brandon Marsh: 2 for 6, one double, two RBIs, two strikeouts
Cristian Pache: 2 for 5, one double
Edmundo Sosa: 1 for 2, one home run, one RBI

Pirates Hitters vs. Turnbull

Bryan Reynolds: 0 for 4, one walk, two strikeouts

Tidbits

Prior to allowing a run in the fifth inning on Friday, Bailey Falter had not allowed a run in 10-straight innings — the longest stretch of his career.
Pirates’ starters have not walked a batter in their last 22.1 innings pitched. That’s their longest stretch since 2001 when they combined to go 30.1 innings.
Andrew McCutchen remains one home run shy of 300 in his career. His last came on Aug. 22 against the St. Louis Cardinals.