Pirates Preview: Bucs in Sunny San Diego to Start Weekend Series

The Pittsburgh Pirates erupted for 10 runs in a 10-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks to take the three-game series on Wednesday.

Paul Skenes got his first win of may after a stellar start and Isiah Kiner-Falefa paced the offense with three hits, two RBI and three runs scored.

After a day off on Thursday, the Pirates (21-36) will look to keep things rolling against the San Diego Padres (31-23) at Petco Park on Friday night.

First pitch is set for 9:40 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh, MLB Network and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Partly cloudy skies and temperatures around 70 degrees for first pitch. Winds WNW at 5-6 mph.

RHP Mitch Keller (1-6, 3.66 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Keller is coming off another strong start, in which he held the Brewers to one run in 6.0 innings with seven strikeouts on Saturday in Pittsburgh.

The right-hander has notched a quality start in each of his last four outings and has a 1.89 ERA (4er/19.0ip) over his last three starts.

Despite his success on the mound, Keller is seeking his first win since his season debut against the Marlins in Miami on Mar. 28.

In six career starts against the Padres, Keller is 2-4 with a 6.10 ERA. He allowed five runs (four earned) in 5.0 innings against them at PNC Park earlier this month.

RHP Nick Pivetta (5-2, 2.72 ERA) Will Start for the Padres

After a rare rough start against the Rockies on May 11, Pivetta has rebounded over his last two outings.

In 12.0 combined innings, Pivetta has allowed a total of two runs on six hits with 14 strikeouts.

Pivetta is seventh in the National League with a 2.72 ERA. He’s fourth in batting average against (.192) and fifth in WHIP (1.01).

The veteran right-hander has had success against the Pirates in his career. Entering Friday’s start, he’s gone 1-1 with a 1.96 ERA in five appearances/four starts against them.

Padres Hitters vs. Keller

• Jose Iglesias: 3 for 16, one home run, four RBI, three strikeouts
• Manny Machado: 4 for 14, one home run, three RBI, three walks, five strikeouts
• Luis Arraez: 5 for 12, two doubles, two RBI, one strikeout
• Jake Cronenworth: 3 for 11, one double, one home run, five RBI, two walks, two strikeouts
• Xander Bogaerts: 2 for 9, one RBI
• Elias Díaz: 0 for 5
• Gavin Sheets: 2 for 4, one home run, two RBI, one walk, one strikeout
• Tyler Wade: 2 for 4, one RBI
• Martin Maldonado: 0 for 4
• Jackson Merrill: 2 for 3, one triple, two RBI
• Fernando Tatis Jr.: 1 for 3, one walk, one strikeout
• Luis Campusano: 0 for 3, one walk

Pirates Hitters vs. Pivetta

• Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 4 for 19, three RBI, four strikeout
• Andrew McCutchen: 2 for 11, one double, two walks, three strikeouts
• Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 6, one double, one home run, one RBI, one walk, two strikeouts
• Tommy Pham: 1 for 5, one home run, one RBI, two walks, three strikeouts
• Oneil Cruz: 0 for 5, one walk, one strikeout
• Adam Frazier: 0 for 4, one strikeout
• Spencer Horwitz: 0 for 3, two strikeouts

Tidbits

• Paul Skenes has a 1.01 ERA (3er/26.2ip) over his last four starts and a 1.74 ERA (11er/57.0ip) over his last nine starts dating back to Apr. 14.
• Though he didn’t get the win, the Pirates beat the Brewers 2-1 in Mitch Keller’s last start. It was the first time they won one of his starts since a 2-1 walk-off win over the Cardinals on Apr. 9. It snapped a string of seven-straight losses in games started by Keller.
• Andrew McCutchen enters Friday’s game one hit shy of tying Arky Vaughan (1,709) for ninth on the Pirates’ all-time hit list. He’s also two hits shy of tying former Pirates catcher Jason Kendall (2,195) for 190th place on the all-time hit list.

Links

Fire Away! Fielding Questions for Weekly PBN+ Pirates Q&A

Perrotto: Spencer Horwitz Getting His Stuff Together

Pittsburgh Baseball Now Running Huge Sale!

Pirates Finally Get Paul Skenes a Win, Blow Out Diamondbacks in Rubber Match

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