Pirates

Pirates Preview: Bucs Try for Series Win Against Mighty Dodgers

Published

4 weeks ago

April 26, 2025

Danny Demilio

Photo provided by Matt Lynch

The Pittsburgh Pirates opened their weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 3-0 win on Friday night.

Paul Skenes was excellent and earned his third win of the season. The big right-hander threw 6.1-shutout innings and struck out a season-high nine batters. Enmanuel Valdez, Oneil Cruz and Ke’Bryan Hayes all had RBI singles.

The Pirates (11-16) will look to clinch a series win against the Dodgers (16-10) as the series continues on Saturday night.

First pitch is set for 9:10 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh, MLB Network and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Some rain earlier in the day should clear for partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-to-upper 50s. Winds SW at 7-10 mph.

RHP Mitch Keller (1-2, 4.18 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Keller allowed two runs in 5.0 innings against the Guardians at PNC Park in his last start.

The right-hander has a 2.45 ERA (5er/18.1ip) in his last three starts after he was charged with seven runs in 3.2 innings against the Yankees on Apr. 4.

Over his last three starts, opponent have a lowly .214/.276/.314 batting line against Keller.

This will be Keller’s sixth start against the Dodgers. He’s gone 2-3 with a 7.54 ERA against Los Angeles up to this point.

RHP Roki Sasaki (0-1, 3.20 ERA) vs. Will Start for the Dodgers

After failing to complete more than 4.0 innings in any of his first three starts, Sasaki has totaled 11.0 innings over his last two.

Between those two starts, the right-hander has a 2.45 ERA (3er/11.oip) and has limited opponents to a .145 batting average.

The Dodgers signed Sasaki out of Japan in the offseason. The 23-year-old is considered the top prospect in baseball.

This will be his first time facing the Pirates.

Dodgers Hitters vs. Keller

Tommy Edman: 6 for 20, one double, three RBI, four walks, three strikeouts
Freddie Freeman: 8 for 15, one double, one home run, three RBIs, two walks, one strikeout
Miguel Rojas: 3 for 10, one double, two RBI, two strikeouts
Shohei Ohtani: 2 for 8, two home runs, three RBI, one walk, three strikeouts
Will Smith: 2 for 8, two RBI, two strikeouts
Mookie Betts: 1 for 7, one home run, one RBI, four walks, two strikeouts
Teoscar Hernández: 1 for 5, one RBI, one walk, one strikeout
Max Muncy: 1 for 5, one home run, one RBI, three strikeouts
Chris Taylor: 0 for 4, one walk, two strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Sasaki

Tidbits

Oneil Cruz was successful in his 32nd-straight stolen base attempt. That’s tied for the second-longest streak by a Pirate since 1922, behind only Max Carey (37, 1922-23).
Paul Skenes threw a career-high 108 pitches in the win against the Dodgers. He leads the National League with a 1.70 FIP. He’s second in MLB behind the Blue Jays’ Chris Bassitt (1.49).
Andrew McCutchen tied Pee Wee Reese and Sherry Magee for 198th on MLB’s all-time hit list with 2,169.