Pirates Preview: Chance to Win Series vs. Angels

The Pittsburgh Pirates (43-55) defeated the Los Angeles Angles (50-49) by a score of 3-0 to even the current three-game series.

Five different Pirates’ pitchers combined to toss a five-hit shutout over the Halos, and the offense was sparked by Endy Rodriguez hitting his first MLB home run.

The rubber match will take place on Sunday. The game kicks off at 4:05 ET and will be aired on AT&T SportsNet.

Weather

Sunshine and temperatures in the low-80s for first pitch on a beautiful afternoon in Anaheim.

The Pirates will send out RHP Mitch Keller (9-5, 3.73 ERA)

Keller will look to shake off a rough first start post All-Star break after he allowed eight earned runs across six innings against the Cleveland Guardians earlier in the week.

The right-hander has faced the Angels one previous time in his career and it came at Angel Stadium. Keller held the Angels to a single run in five innings and struck out four.

Seven of Keller’s 20 starts this season have come against American League teams. He owns a 3-3 record with a 4.89 ERA in those starts.

The Angels will send out LHP Tyler Anderson (4-2, 5.17)

Anderson, who was with the Pirates during the 2021 season, will face his former team in the start for the Angels.

The southpaw has pitched better of late. In his last five appearances, Anderson is 1-1 with a 3.47 ERA.

Anderson has never faced the Pirates in his big league career, one of only three teams he has yet to have pitched against.

Angels Hitters vs. Keller

• Mike Moustakas: 6 for 15, one double, one home run, four RBIs, two walks, three strikeouts
• Hunter Renfroe: 2 for 4, one walk, one strikeout

Pirates Hitters vs. Anderson

• Austin Hedges: 2 for 14, two home runs, two RBIs, five strikeouts
• Connor Joe: 3 for 7, one double, one RBI
• Carlos Santana: 2 for 6, one RBI

Tidbits

• With his first-career home run on Saturday, Rodriguez became the youngest Pirates’ catcher to homer since Jason Kendall in 1997.
• Rodriguez joined Nick Gonzales, Henry Davis, Josh Palacios and Ji Hwan Bae in hitting their first-career home run this season with the Pirates.
• The Pirates can clinch their first series win since sweeping the San Diego Padres at PNC Park in three games from June 27-29.

Links

Pirates Rule 5 Gains: Jose Hernandez and the Rest

Potential Draft Sleeper: WVU-Product Carlson Reed

Perrotto: Pirates Give Old Familiar Formula Yet Another Shot

Paul Skenes: High-Flying Pilot, Down-to-Earth Player

Perrotto: Pirates Just Keep Putting on That Happy Face

43-Year-Old Rich Hill Not Stuck in His Ways (+)

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