Pirates Preview: Can Bucs Make it Back-to-Back Wins Over Reds?

Published

7 months ago

June 18, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 at PNC Park on Monday night in the first matchup between the division rivals this season.

Paul Skenes continued to shine for the Pirates (35-37) by tossing six innings of one-run ball and improved to 4-0 on the season.

The Pirates will look for their third series win in their last four attempts on Tuesday night against the Reds (34-38).

First pitch is set for 6:40 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Another hot one with a heat advisory in effect until 8 p.m. Clear skies with winds ENE at 7 mph.

Though Falter has pitched extremely well for much of the season, he has struggled in each of his last two outings.

The Pirates left-hander hasn’t recorded an out in the fifth inning in either start and has allowed eight runs on 16 hits in eight innings pitched.

Prior to those two starts to being June, Falter had a 3.22 ERA through the end of May.

Falter hasn’t had much success in five previous matchups with the Reds. He’s 0-1 with a 7.79 ERA.

Lodolo was drafted 41st overall by the Pirates in the 2016 draft out of high school but opted to play collegiately at TCU.

The Reds took him at No. 7 three years later and the 26-year-old is off to a hot start this season, his third year pitching in the big leagues.

Opponents are hitting .216 with a .614 OPS against him. Lodolo has struck out 62 batters and walked just 15 batters in 58.1 innings.

He’s split a pair of decisions against the Pirates in his career and has a 3.97 ERA in two starts.

Paul Skenes has thrown 65 pitches of at least 100 mph this season. Among starting pitchers, the Angels’ José Soriano with 36.
Since making his debut on May 11, Skenes is fourth in the National League with a 2.29 ERA. Teammate Mitch Keller is second with a 1.96 ERA.
With two more doubles on Monday night, Rowdy Tellez is slashing .429/.474/.629 in 11 games to start the month of June.