Pirates

Pirates Preview: Bucs Welcome Yankees to PNC Park for Home Opener

Published

2 weeks ago

April 4, 2025

Pittsburgh Pirates' Andrew McCutchen (22) is introduced before the Pirates home opener baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Pittsburgh, Friday, April, 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

The Pittsburgh Pirates salvaged their series against the Tampa Bay Rays and a disappointing road trip to begin the year with a 4-2 win on Wednesday afternoon.

Paul Skenes was brilliant and Oneil Cruz connected on his second homer of the season to lead Pittsburgh to its second win of the season.

After seven games on the road to begin the season, the Pirates (2-5) return to PNC Park for their home opener against the New York Yankees (4-2) on Friday.

First pitch is set for 4:12 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh as well as 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Early morning showers should give way to dry conditions for the game. Temperatures in the low-60s with winds NE at 7 mph.

RHP Mitch Keller (1-0, 1.50 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Keller was victorious in his first start of the season when he held the Miami Marlins to one run on five hits in 6.0 innings and struck out four batters.

Last season, Keller totaled 31 starts and went 11-12 with a 4.25 ERA, 50 walks and 166 strikeouts in 178 innings.

It was a good spring for the right-hander, who went 1-1 with a 2.40 ERA in five starts in the Grapefruit League. He allowed 11 hits, walked seven and struck out 13 in 15.0 innings.

Keller faced the Yankees once before in his career and was knocked around. In 6.0 innings, he allowed four runs on 10 hits, struck out seven and took the loss.

LHP Max Fried (0-0, 3.86 ERA) Will Start for the Yankees

Fried is in his first season wit the Yankees after signing a mega eight-year deal worth $218 million as a free agent this offseason.

The left-hander made his debut against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday and allowed six runs, but only two earned, in 4.2 innings. He yielded seven hits, walked two and struck out four.

Fried was an All-Star for the Atlanta Braves last season when he went 11-10 with a 3.25 ERA in 29 starts.

In seven previous starts against the Pirates, Fried is 3-1 with a 4.28 ERA.

Yankees Hitters vs. Keller

Paul Goldschmidt: 8 for 32, two doubles, one home run, three RBIs, three walks, seven strikeouts
Cody Bellinger: 5 for 13, four doubles, one RBI, two strikeouts
Trent Grisham: 5 for 11, one double, three strikeouts
Aaron Judge: 2 for 3, one double, one strikeout
Jazz Chisholm Jr.: 1 for 2, one double, two walks

Pirates Hitters vs. Fried

Bryan Reynolds: 6 for 20, one double, one RBI, one walk, three strikeouts
Andrew McCutchen: 2 for 19, three walks, eight strikeouts
Tommy Pham: 2 for 16, one RBI, two walks, four strikeouts
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 6 for 15, two RBIs, two strikeouts
Adam Frazier: 2 for 9, two walks two strikeouts
Jared Triolo: 1 for 5, one RBI
Jack Suwinski: 1 for 4, one home run, one RBI, two strikeouts
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 2 for 3, one RBI

Tidbits

The Pirates lead baseball with 19 stolen bases. Oneil Cruz leads the league with six stolen bases in six attempts.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa extended his hitting streak to six games in Wednesday’s win over the Rays. He leads the team with a .333 (7 for 21) batting average to start the year.
The last time the Pirates faced the Yankees was in New York to end the 2024 season. Pittsburgh took two out of three games to finish with a 76-86 record.