Pirates

Pirates Preview: Bullpen Game as Bucs Seek Back-to-Back Series Wins

Published

4 months ago

June 8, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates blanked the Minnesota Twins 3-0 in the series opener on Friday night at PNC Park.

Mitch Keller won his sixth-straight start by throwing six-scoreless innings and Oneil Cruz and Connor Joe homered for the Pirates (30-33).

The Bucs will go for the series win against the Twins (33-30) on Saturday in a bullpen game as Carmen Mlodzinski makes his first start of the season and the second of his career.

First pitch is 4:05 ET and the game will be aired on Sportsnet Pittsburgh.

Weather

Partly cloudy skies with temperatures around 80 degrees. Winds WSW at 9 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (0-2, 6.75 ERA)

Mlodzinski was used as a starter one other time in his career against the Diamondbacks last season. He pitched 1.1 innings and allowed one unearned run.

This season, Mlodzinski hasn’t had the same level of success as he did during his rookie campaign a year ago.

Perhaps the right-hander is starting to turn a corner, however. He hasn’t been charged with an earned run over his last four appearances, a total of five innings.

He’s never pitched against the Twins.

The Minnesota Twins Will Send Out RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (2-0, 3.05 ERA)

Woods-Richardson scuffled some in his last start against the Houston Astros when he allowed three runs on three hits (two homers) in 4.1 innings while striking out six.

Over his last three starts prior to his most recent, the right-hander allowed only three runs on 10 hits in 15 innings pitched.

Opponents have managed a .283 on-base percentage and a .623 OPS against Woods-Richardson.

The 23-year-old has never faced the Pirates.

Twins Hitters vs. Mlodzinski

Carlos Santana: 1 for 3, two strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Woods-Richardson

Tidbits

Mitch Keller has gone at least six innings in six-straight starts. That’s the longest such stretch by a Pirates’ starter since Gerrit Cole in 2015.
He’s also gone five-plus innings in 44-consecutive starts dating back to last season, the longest active streak in baseball.
After failing to convert three of his first four save opportunities, David Bednar has converted 12 save chances in a row.