Pirates

Pirates Preview: Bucs in Cincinnati to Start Weekend Series

Published

6 days ago

April 11, 2025

Pittsburgh Pirates' Ke'Bryan Hayes plays during a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

The Pittsburgh Pirates had a day off on Thursday after walking-off the St. Louis Cardinals in extra innings on Wednesday afternoon.

Joey Bart provided the game-winner after Mitch Keller delivered 7.1 excellent innings in his third start of the season.

The Pirates (5-8) will be in Cincinnati for a weekend series with the Reds (5-8) at Great American Ball Park starting Friday night.

First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on Apple TV as well as 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Mostly sunny skies and chilly (not the Skyline kind). Temperatures in the 40s with winds N at 7-12 mph.

LHP Bailey Falter (0-1, 8.10 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

It was a rough start for Falter his last time out against the New York Yankees at PNC Park on Saturday.

The left-hander allowed seven runs on seven hits (two home runs) in 4.0 innings with a walk and five strikeouts. He took the loss after the Pirates were defeated 10-4.

In his first start of the season, Falter pitched 6.0 innings and only allowed two runs against the Marlins in Miami.

This will be Falter’s ninth appearance against the Reds which will be tied for the most he’s had against a team (nine vs. the Marlins). In his career against Cincinnati, Falter 0-3 with a 7.02 ERA.

RHP Brady Singer (2-0, 2.25 ERA) Will Start for the Reds

Singer is in his first season with the Reds after he was acquired from the Kansas City Royals in an offseason trade for Jonathan India and Joey Wiemer.

The right-hander threw 7.0-shutout innings against the Texas Rangers in his season debut and allowed five runs (three earned) in 5.0 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.

Last season in Kansas City, Singer went 9-13 with a 3.71 ERA in a career-high 32 starts.

Singer has split a pair of decisions in two previous starts against the Pirates and has allowed nine runs (eight earned) in 10.2 innings.

Reds Hitters vs. Falter

Spencer Steer: 7 for 13, two doubles, one home run, four RBI, two walks, two strikeouts
Elly De La Cruz: 2 for 8, one walk, three strikeout
Jeimer Candelario: 2 for 7, one home run, two RBI, one strikeout
Santiago Espinal: 3 for 6, one double, one home run, four RBI, one walk
TJ Friedl: 1 for 4, one home run, one RBI, one strikeout
Jake Fraley: 1 for 3
Noelvi Marte: 1 for 3, one walk
Christian Encarnacion-Strand: 2 for 2, one home run, three RBI

Pirates Hitters vs. Singer

Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 5 for 10, three RBI, one walk, one strikeout
Adam Frazier: 2 for 7, two doubles, one RBI, two walks, two strikeouts
Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 6, one double, two RBI, two strikeouts
Tommy Pham: 0 for 6, two strikeouts
Andrew McCutchen: 0 for 3, three strikeouts

Tidbits

Joey Bart’s walk-off in the 13th was the first walk-off hit of his career.
Mitch Keller notched his 700th-career strikeout in Wednesday’s win. He became the fastest pitcher in franchise history to reach 700 strikeouts by innings pitched (718.1).
Tsung-Che Cheng made his debut and became the 18th Taiwanese player to reach the big leagues. He’s the third to do so with the Pirates — LHP Wei-Chung Wang (2019) and INF Yu Chang (2022).