Pirates

Pirates Preview: Andrew Heaney Makes Team Debut in Series Finale vs. Marlins

Published

3 weeks ago

March 30, 2025

202503019, The Pittsburgh Pirates face the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte, Florida (Photos by Harrison Barden)

The Pittsburgh Pirates were once again walk-off losers against the Miami Marlins, falling 5-4 in 12 innings on Saturday.

A questionable send decision by third base coach Mike Rabelo erased a scoring chance for the Pirates in the top of the 12th and the Marlins took advantage and won the game in the bottom of the inning.

The Pirates will look to earn a series split on Sunday afternoon behind Andrew Heaney, who is making his team debut.

The series finale will begin at 1:40 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

loanDepot Park has a retractable roof, so weather will not be a factor this series.

LHP Andrew Heaney Will Start for the Pirates

Heaney will make his Pirates’ debut after signing a one-year, $5.25 million contract as a free agent in the offseason.

The veteran left-hander spent the last two seasons with the Texas Rangers. After helping lead Texas to its first World Series championship in 2023, Heaney went 5-14 with a 4.28 ERA across 32 appearances/31 starts in 2024.

Heaney made four starts in the Grapefruit League and went 0-3 with a 9.49 ERA (13er/12.1ip), 18 hits, five walks and seven strikeouts. Four of the 18 hits against him were home runs.

In two previous meetings against the Marlins, Heaney was been dominant. He’s 2-0 and hasn’t allowed a run in 11.2 innings.

RHP Max Meyer Will Start for the Marlins

Meyer, who the Marlins drafted with the third pick in the 2020 draft, returned to the mound last season after being sidelined for all of 2023 with an injury.

In 11 starts with Miami in 2024, Meyer went 3-5 with a 5.68 ERA. He allowed 14 home runs and struck out 46 batters in 57 innings while opponents hit .276 with an .899 OPS against him.

Meyer had a strong spring, going 2-1 with a 3.21 ERA across five starts.

His lone appearance against the Pirates was the one he left after just 0.2 innings in 2022, which resulted in him needing Tommy John surgery.

Marlins Hitters vs. Heaney

Dane Myers: 0 for 3, two strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Meyer

Tidbits

The Pirates stole six more bases in the loss on Saturday, giving them 14 through their first three games of the season. That ties the 1984 Cleveland Guardians for the most in the live ball era (since 1920).
Oneil Cruz drew four walks (one intentional) set a career-high. He drew three walks in a game on 9/20/22 against the New York Yankees, which was his previous career-high.
Joey Bart recorded the third stolen base of his career and his first with the Pirates. It was the first time Bart stole a base since 7/24/22 while with the San Francisco Giants.