Pirates Preview: Bucs Face Snakes Under Friday Night Lights

Danny Demilio |

Jul 25, 2025

The Pittsburgh Pirates had an off day on Thursday after completing a sweep over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday afternoon.

Bailey Falter tossed a gem in the win, and Spencer Horwitz hit his first-career grand slam to lead the Pirates to a 6-1 win.

The Pirates (42-61) will start their final series of a nine-game homestand against the Arizona Diamondbacks (50-53) on Friday night.

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

Weather

Temperatures in the 80s and a chance for storms around game time. Winds W at 2-4 mph.

RHP Mike Burrows (1-3, 4.70 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Burrows took a no-decision in his last start after holding the Chicago White Sox to two runs with six strikeouts in five innings.

It was a good bounce back effort for the right-hander, who was tagged for six runs in 1.1 innings against the Minnesota Twins in his last start before the break.

In six starts at PNC Park this season, Burrows is 1-2 with a 4.08 ERA. He has a 5.71 ERA in five road appearances.

Burrows allowed five runs (four earned) in 3.1 innings against Arizona on May 27.

RHP Ryne Nelson (6-2, 3.52 ERA) Will Start for the Diamondbacks

Nelson allowed just one run in six-strong innings against the St. Louis Cardinals in his last start on July 19.

Nelson struggled in his first start after joining Arizona’s rotation full time on June 7, but is 4-0 with a 2.29 ERA over his last seven starts.

Opponents this season are hitting just .204 with a .624 OPS against Nelson.

He threw 6.2-shutout innings against the Pirates on May 26. He’s 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA against Pittsburgh in his career.

Diamondbacks Hitters vs. Keller

Corbin Carroll: 1 for 3, one home run, one RBI, one strikeout
Alek Thomas: 1 for 2, one RBI

Pirates Hitters vs. Nelson

Oneil Cruz: 1 for 6, one double, three strikeouts
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 2 for 5, one double, one triple, two RBI, one strikeout
Tommy Pham: 1 for 5, one strikeout
Spencer Horwitz: 0 for 5, one RBI
Bryan Reynolds: 0 for 5, one walk, one strikeout
Joey Bart: 0 for 4
Alexander Canario: 1 for 3, one strikeout
Andrew McCutchen: 1 for 3

Tidbits

Andrew McCutchen tied Mike Schmidt (2,234) for the No. 179 spot on MLB’s all-time hits list with his first inning home run on Wednesday.
Spencer Horwitz had seven hits in 12 at-bats against the Tigers.
The Pirates sweep of the Tigers was their fourth of the season and first against an AL team at PNC Park since 2018.