Pirates

Pirates Preview: Bucs Start Road Trip in Milwaukee

Published

8 months ago

May 13, 2024

Danny Demilio

The Pittsburgh Pirates lost 5-4 to the Chicago Cubs in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon in the rubber match at PNC Park.

Oneil Cruz and Connor Joe both homered for the Pirates (18-23) but they came up short in the extra frame.

After a lengthy homestand, the Pirates will be on the road for seven games starting with the division leader Milwaukee Brewers (24-16) on Monday night.

First pitch is set for 7:40 ET and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

American Family Field has a roof, so weather will not be a factor this series.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Mitch Keller (3-3, 4.41 ERA)

In Keller’s last start, he threw the second complete game of his career against the Los Angeles Angels at PNC Park.

It was easily Keller’s best start of the season. He held the Angels to one run on five hits and one walk while striking out five. It took the right-hander a career-high 109 pitches to get through his outing.

It was a much-needed start for Keller, who has generated inconsistent results after signing a five-year extension with the Pirates during the offseason.

Keller is looking for his first-career win against the Brewers on Monday. In seven starts against Milwaukee in his career, Keller is 0-4 with a 6.37 ERA.

The Milwaukee Brewers Will Send Out RHP Colin Rea (3-0, 3.29 ERA)

Rea was knocked around in his last start in Kansas City, when he allowed four runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings pitched.

The Brewers right-hander has been alternating good and bad starts over his last six outings. His last start was the only one on the season in which he didn’t complete five innings.

Rea has faced the Pirates four times and is 2-1 with a 5.94 ERA. Three of those four previous appearances have been as a starting pitcher.

Brewers Hitters vs. Keller

Willy Adames: 6 for 20, two doubles, one home run, four RBI, one walk, six strikeouts
Christian Yelich: 4 for 12, one RBI, three walks, three strikeouts
William Contreras: 3 for 10, two home runs, three RBIs, one walk, one strikeout
Rhys Hoskins: 5 for 8, two doubles, one triple, three RBIs, one walk, one strikeout
Brice Turang: 3 for 5, one home run, three RBIs
Jake Bauers: 1 for 3, one RBI, one strikeout
Sal Frelick: 1 for 3, one double, two RBIs, three walks, one strikeout
Andruw Monasterio: 1 for 3, one strikeout
Oliver Dunn: 0 for 3, one strikeout

Pirates Hitters vs. Rea

Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 6, one double, one RBI, two strikeouts
Yasmani Grandal: 1 for 6, three strikeouts
Andrew McCutchen: 1 for 5, one walk, two strikeouts
Jared Triolo: 1 for 5
Jack Suwinski: 1 for 4, one double, two walks
Michael A. Taylor: 0 for 4, one walk, one strikeout
Nick Gonzlaes: 2 for 3, one home run, two RBIs

Tidbits

Oneil Cruz’s home run was in the air for 7.12 seconds, the longest hang time for a home run by a Major League player this season and the longest by a Pirate in the Statcast Era.
Cruz’s four home runs this month tie him for the second-most in the National League in the month of May.
Cruz has a 1.038 OPS against the Brewers, the highest against any team in his career. He also has a .955 OPS in Milwaukee, which is his second-best mark in any stadium in the league.