Pirates

Pirates Preview: Can Bucs End Tough Month With Win?

Published

3 months ago

August 31, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates lost their fourth-straight game with a 10-8 loss to the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Friday night.

The Pirates’ pitching staff was rocked for 16 hits. In his first game since returning from the injured list, Andrew McCutchen went 2 for 5 with a double and a home run and drove in three runs. He extended his hitting streak to 12 games.

The Pirates (62-72) end a brutal month of August on Saturday night as their series against the first-place Guardians (77-58) continues.

First pitch is set for 6:10 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

A beautiful night for baseball. Temperatures in the mid-70s and partly sunny skies. Winds W at 7 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Luis Ortiz (5-4, 3.36 ERA)

Ortiz tossed six-shutout innings against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park in his last start on Sunday. Sunday’s start marked the third time this season Ortiz went at least six innings without allowing a run.

It was a needed bounce-back start for Ortiz, who posted a 6.45 ERA through his first four starts in the month of August.

A lot of Ortiz’s success this season has come on his hard stuff, a four-seam fastball and sinker. He also throws a slider and a cutter.

Ortiz has never faced Cleveland.

The Cleveland Guardians Will Send Out LHP Matt Boyd (1-0, 2.70 ERA)

Boyd has made three starts with the Guardians since he was activated off the 15-day injured list and has been effective.

Across 16.2 innings, Boyd has only allowed 10 hits with five walks and 12 strikeouts. Opponents have hit just .169 against him with a miniscule .553 OPS.

The veteran left-hander has a five-pitch mix consisting of a four-seam fastball, changeup, slider, sinker and curveball.

The Pirates have had success against Boyd in four previous meetings. He’s 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA against the Bucs in his career.

Guardians Hitters vs. Ortiz

Lane Thomas: 0 for 1

Pirates Hitters vs. Boyd

Michael A. Taylor: 3 for 10, one double, one RBI, one walk, five strikeouts
Andrew McCutchen: 2 for 6, one home run, one RBI
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 2 for 4, one double, one RBI, one strikeout
Yasmani Grandal: 0 for 4, two walks, two strikeouts

Tidbits

During their four-game losing streak, the Pirates have an ERA of 12.34 (48er/35ip).
Oneil Cruz had two hits and extended his on-base streak to 21 games and his hitting streak to a career-long 10 games.
Andrew McCutchen’s home run off of Emmanuel Clase was only the second the Guardians’ All-Star closer allowed this season.