Pirates Preview: Buccos Look to Avoid Second Straight Sweep

The Pirates (56-60) dropped their sixth straight game on Saturday night, meaning they’ll need to defeat the Dodgers today to avoid their second straight sweep. Today’s game, taking place in Los Angeles, has first pitch set for 4:10pm, and will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and SportsNet LA.

Weather:

Temperatures will peak around 88 degrees near first pitch, decreasing into the mid-80s as the game goes on. The forecast calls for sunny skies, moderate humidity and a roughly 9 mile per hour wind blowing toward the outfield..

Starters:

The Pirates will send left-hander Bailey Falter (5-7, 3.87 ERA, 65 SO in 97.2 innings) to the mound. 

Los Angeles will counter with right-hander and former Pirates’ fifth-round pick Tyler Glasnow (9-6, 3.54 ERA, 164 SO in 127 innings). Glasnow allowed one run in six innings against the Dodgers back in June, an eventual 1-0 win for Pittsburgh. Falter lost his game against Los Angeles later that series, allowing five earned runs in four innings.

Matchups:

Noteworthy Dodgers’ Hitters vs Falter

• Teoscar Hernández: 3-for-6 with a double and 2 homers
• Freddie Freeman: 1-for-3 with a homer

Noteworthy Pirates’ Hitters vs Glasnow

• Rowdy Tellez: 4-for-16 with 2 homers
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 1-for-7 with a single
• Bryan Reynolds: 2-for-3 (both singles)

Tidbits:

• Pittsburgh’s six-game losing streak ties a season worst.

Links:

The Other Side: Paul Skenes Makes Impression on Arizona’s Torey Lovullo

Pirates Minor League Report: Reed, Harrington Still Settling In

Pirates Left Thinking What Could Have Been After Disastrous Homestand

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