Pirates

Pirates Preview: Bucs Host One of American League’s Best

Published

4 weeks ago

September 13, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates completed the sweep over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday afternoon with a 3-1 win at PNC Park.

Bailey Falter carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning and Jared Triolo connected on his eighth home run of the season in the win.

After a day off on Thursday, the Pirates will look to push their winning streak to five games in welcoming Bobby Witt Jr. and the Kansas City Royals.

First pitch is set for 6:40 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

Sunny skies and temperatures around 80 degrees at first pitch. Winds E at 6-7 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Luis Ortiz (6-5, 3.26 ERA)

Ortiz started the first game of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals on Saturday and allowed four runs (three earned) in 5.2 innings.

Prior to a Dylan Crews second-inning home run, Ortiz had compiled a career-high 16-straight scoreless innings streak. Ortiz had not allowed a run in his last two starts before Saturday.

Ortiz ranks 12th in the National League in ERA amongst pitchers who have totaled at least 110 innings pitched.

The right-hander faced the Royals once before in his career and allowed one run in five innings pitched.

The Kansas City Royals Will Send Out RHP Alec Marsh (7-8, 4.66 ERA)

Marsh last toed the rubber on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins at home and allowed two runs in five innings with five strikeouts

The Royals optioned Marsh to Triple-A in July and has a 4.29 ERA (7er/16.2ip) in three starts since he was recalled on Aug. 26.

Marsh’s six-pitch mix includes a four-seamer, slider, curveball, sinker, changeup and sweeper.

This will be his first time facing the Pirates.

Royals Hitters vs. Ortiz

Freddy Fermin: 1 for 3, one double, one strikeout
Michael Massey: 0 for 3

Pirates Hitters vs. Marsh

Yasmani Grandal: 0 for 1, one RBI, one walk

Tidbits

Dennis Santana holds the longest active scoreless-innings streak in MLB at 18 dating back to Aug. 8 (15 appearances).
Oneil Cruz is fifth in the National League and ninth in baseball with a .322 batting average since the start of August.
In his career, Jared Triolo has a .954 OPS in September/October, by far his best mark of any month.