Pirates

Pirates Preview: Bucs Go for Sweep Against Yankees in Season Finale

Published

1 week ago

September 29, 2024

Andrew McCutchen, Bryan Reynolds, Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates again beat the New York Yankees with a resounding 9-4 win at Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Bucs belted five home runs and Paul Skenes pitched two scoreless innings and struck out starts Juan Soto and Aaron Judge in his final start of the year.

The Pirates (76-85) will try and complete the sweep over the Yankees (93-68) in the final game of the 2024 regular season on Sunday afternoon.

First pitch is set for 3:05 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

Showers earlier in the day should give way to overcast skies and temperatures in the mid-60s. Winds ESE at 8 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out LHP Bailey Falter (8-9, 4.26 ERA)

Falter was roughed up the last time he stepped on the mound at PNC Park against the Milwaukee Brewers. He allowed four runs on five hits in five innings and took the loss.

Overall, it’s been a good month of September for Falter, however, In four starts, he’s 2-2 with a 3.52 ERA.

Sunday’s start will be Falter’s 28th of the season. Prior to this year, the most starts he made in a season was 16 in 2022 (20 total appearances).

This will be his first time facing the Yankees.

The New York Yankees Will Send Out RHP Clarke Schmidt (5-5, 2.55 ERA)

Schmidt (right lat strain) missed more than three months before returning from the injured list earlier this month.

Since coming off the IL, the right-hander has a 2.61 ERA in four starts and has struck out 21 batters in 20.2 innings. Though he’s pitched well, he’s dropped four-straight decisions and hasn’t won a start since May 16.

Schmidt throws a cutter, sweeper, sinker, curve and a very rare changeup.

He’s never faced the Pirates.

Yankees Hitters vs. Falter

Juan Soto: 3 for 8, three RBIs
Jazz Chisholm Jr.: 2 for 4, one home run, five RBIs, one strikeout

Pirates Hitters vs. Schmidt

Yasmani Grandal: 0 for 2

Tidbits

Paul Skenes is the first rookie since Scott Perry in 1918 to record at least 23 starts with a sub-2.00 ERA.
Skenes held opponents to a .198 batting average, which is the lowest by a Pirates’ starter all time (min. 16 starts).
With a win on Sunday, the Pirates would eclipse their 2023 win total. They finished 76-86 last season.