Pirates

Pirates Preview: Bucs Go For Series Win Over Rival Reds

Published

1 month ago

May 21, 2025

Danny Demilio

Photo provided by Eddie Provident

The Pittsburgh Pirates snapped a four-game skid by edging the Cincinnati Reds 1-0 at PNC Park on Tuesday night.

Bailey Falter kept things rolling with 7.0-shutout innings and Bryan Reynolds’ RBI single was enough to seal the win. David Bednar converted his fourth save of the season.

The Pirates (16-33) will go for the series win over the Reds (25-25) in the rubber match on Wednesday afternoon.

First pitch is set for 12:35 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and 100.1 FM & AM 1020.

Weather

Rain in the area but a chance it clears up for game time.

LHP Andrew Heaney (2-3, 3.02 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Heaney turned in another good effort in his last start when he held the Phillies to one run on four hits in 5.0 innings on Friday.

It was the sixth time in nine starts this season in which Heaney held an opponent to two runs or fewer.

Heaney ranks 10th among qualified left-handers in ERA this season and is sixth with a .209 batting average against.

The Reds struck for four runs in 6.0 innings against Heaney on Apr. 12 in Cincinnati. In three career starts against the Reds, Heaney is 2-1 with a 2.60 ERA.

RHP Brady Singer (5-2, 5.01 ERA) Will Start for the Reds

It’s been a rough month for Singer, who has a 9.45 ERA (14er/13.1ip) through his first three starts.

During May, opponents are slashing .333/.397/.614 with against him while Singer has issued six walks against only seven strikeouts.

In six starts through the end of April, Singer owned a 3.24 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 33.1 innings while opponents hit just .198 against him.

Singer faced the Pirates on Apr. 11 and allowed three runs in 5.0 innings. In his career against Pittsburgh, the right-hander is 2-1 with a 6.32 ERA across three starts.

Reds Hitters vs. Heaney

Austin Hays: 5 for 10, two doubles, two home runs, two RBI, one walk, two strikeouts
Jose Trevino: 2 for 10, two strikeouts
Connor Joe: 0 for 5, one walk, four strikeouts
Austin Wynns: 0 for 4, three strikeouts
Elly De La Cruz: 1 for 3, one home run, four RBI, one strikeout
Spencer Steer: 0 for 3, two strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Singer

Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 5 for 12, three RBI, one walk, two strikeouts
Adam Frazier: 3 for 9, two doubles, one home run, three RBI, two walks, two strikeouts
Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 8, one double, two RBI, three strikeouts
Tommy Pham: 1 for 8, one double, one RBI, two strikeouts
Joey Bart: 1 for 3, one walk, one strikeout
Andrew McCutchen: 0 for 3, three strikeouts

Tidbits

Bailey Falter is one of seven Pirates pitchers (nine times) since at least 1893 with 23.2-plus innings and one or zero runs allowed in a four-start span within a single season.
Falter’s 0.38 ERA in the month of May is second in baseball behind the Royals’ Kris Bubic (0.36 ERA)
Bryan Reynolds’ RBI single was the Pirates first hit with a runner in scoring position since Alexander Canario’s three-run homer in the sixth inning against the Phillies on Friday night.