Pirates

Pirates Preview: Bucs Seek Back-to-Back Wins Over Reds

Published

2 months ago

August 23, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates opened their four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds with a commanding 7-0 win at PNC Park on Thursday night.

Paul Skenes dazzled with six-scoreless innings and Bryan De La Cruz roped a pair of doubles as part of a three-hit performance and added three RBIs.

On Friday, the Pirates (60-67) will look to make it two in a row against the Reds (62-66) to start the series and four in a row against them overall.

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

Weather

Temperatures are creeping back up to around 80 degrees with mostly sunny skies. Winds NNE at 5 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out LHP Bailey Falter (6-7, 4.02 ERA)

Falter tied a career-high with eight strikeouts and got the win after tossing 5.2 innings against the Seattle Mariners in his last start.

It was a nice bounce-back for the left-hander, who struggled against the Dodgers two starts ago and had a rain-shortened outing just before that one.

Falter has gotten much better results at PNC Park this season than away from his home yard. In 10 home starts, he has a 3.61 ERA compared to a 4.42 ERA on the road.

He’ll be looking for his first-career win against the Reds. In seven previous appearances, he’s gone 0-3 with a 6.67 ERA. He faced Cincinnati in back-to-back starts in June and went 0-2 after allowing a total of seven runs (six earned) in 11 innings.

The Cincinnati Reds Will Send Out LHP Andrew Abbott (10-10, 3.72 ERA)

Abbott has been up and down over his last five starts but the overall numbers during that time look poor. Dating back to July 27, he has a 6.12 ERA and opponents have managed a .957 OPS against him.

While left-handers (.252) have a higher batting average against Abbott than right-handers (.237), righties have a slugging percentage .166 points higher against him and have accounted for 23 of the league-leading 25 home runs against him this year.

Abbott relies primarily on his four-seam fastball. He also has a sweeper, changeup and curveball.

The lefty has faced the Pirates twice and is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA. This will be the first matchup in 2024.

Reds Hitters vs. Falter

Jonathan India: 4 for 14, two doubles, one walk
Tyler Stephenson: 6 for 13, one double, one home run, four RBIs, one strikeout
Stuart Fairchild: 3 for 11, one double, two RBIs
Spencer Steer: 6 for 10, one double, one home run, four RBIs, two walks, one strikeout
Elly De La Cruz: 2 for 5, one walk, two strikeouts
Ty France: 1 for 5, one strikeout
Santiago Espinal: 1 for 4, one home run, two RBIs, one walk
TJ Friedl: 1 for 4, one home run, one RBI, one strikeout
Luke Maile: 1 for 4, two strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Abbott

Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 5, one double
Connor Joe: 0 for 4, three strikeouts

Tidbits

Paul Skenes’ nine strikeouts were the most he’s had in a game since 11 against the Brewers on July 11. It also marked the first time he won two-straight starts since July 5-11.
Bryan De La Cruz had gone his first 66 at-bats with the Pirates without recording an extra-base hit. He doubled in back-to-back at-bats in the fourth and fifth innings.
The Pirates have shutout their opponents twice in the last three games Pittsburgh’s starting pitchers have gone 19-straight innings without allowing a run.