Pirates Preview: Bats Have to Break Out at Some Point… Right?

It was more of the same for the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 7-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on Monday night.

Mitch Keller provided a strong start, but the offense was all but silenced against Reds starter Nick Lodolo and three relievers.

Eventually, the offense has to finally break out. Maybe that will come on Tuesday night, when the Pirates (15-33) look to even the series against the Reds (25-24).

First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Mix of sun and clouds with temperatures in the mid-60s. Winds E-ENE at 7 mph.

LHP Bailey Falter (2-3, 4.02 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Command issues shortened Falter’s last start against the Mets in New York, but the left-hander threw 3.2-scoreless innings before exiting.

In three starts this month, Falter owns a 0.54 ERA (1er/16.2ip) and has held opponents to a .130/.254/.185 batting line.

Falter is fifth in ERA among MLB starters who have logged 15-plus innings this month and third in batting average against. At the end of April, his season ERA was 5.93.

Falter’s nine appearances and seven starts against the Reds are both the most he’s had against any team. He’ll be looking for his first win against Cincinnati, however, and enters Tuesday’s start 0-4 with a 6.81 ERA. He took the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) in 5.0 innings in Cincinnati last month.

RHP Nick Martinez (2-4, 3.66 ERA) Will Start for the Reds

Martinez is coming off a stellar start against the White Sox, when he threw 7.0-shutout innings on two hits.

Over his last five starts dating back to Apr. 22, Martinez is 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA (7er/30.2ip) without allowing a home run.

The right-hander has the seventh-lowest walk rate (1.92 walks per nine innings) and he hasn’t issued a free pass over his last three starts.

In six appearances/two starts against the Pirates in his career, Martinez is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA.

Reds Hitters vs. Falter

• Tyler Stephenson: 8 for 15, one double, two home runs, five RBI, one walk, one strikeout
• Spencer Steer: 7 for 14, two doubles, one home run, four RBI, three walks, two strikeouts
• Elly De La Cruz: 2 for 10, two walks, three strikeouts
• Santiago Espinal: 4 for 8, one double, one home run, four RBI, one walk
• TJ Friedl: 2 for 6, one home run, one RBI, one walk, one strikeout
• Gavin Lux: 0 for 3, three strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Martinez

• Andrew McCutchen: 3 for 10, two strikeouts
• Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 8, one home run, two RBI, three strikeouts
• Joey Bart: 2 for 7, one double, one RBI, four strikeouts
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 2 for 6, one RBI, two strikeouts
• Tommy Pham: 1 for 5, one double, one walk, three strikeouts
• Oneil Cruz: 2 for 4, one strikeout
• Jared Triolo: 1 for 3, one strikeout
• Spencer Horwitz: 2 for 2, one double, one home run, two RBI, one walk

Tidbits

• The Pirates have now gone 24-straight games without scoring more than four runs. The last time they did so was in a 9-3 win against the Angels on Apr. 22.
• Mitch Keller has a 3.17 ERA over his last eight starts, but he Pirates are just 1-7 in those games.
• Keller passed Gerrit Cole for the third-most strikeouts in PNC Park history with 357. Only Paul Maholm (383) and Francisco Liriano (371) have more.

Links

Perrotto: Gene Lamont Wants More Than Sentimental Journey

Pirates’ Offseason Decision Comes Back to Bite, Highlights Much Bigger Issues

Pirates Squander Another Strong Start; Offense, Bullpen Let Down Keller

WATCH: Gene Lamont Discusses Return to Pirates’ Staff

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