Pirates

Pirates Preview: Can Carmen Mlodzinski Figure Out 2nd Time Through?

Published

3 weeks ago

April 30, 2025

Danny Demilio

Photo provided by Matt Lynch

The Pittsburgh Pirates were dismantled 9-0 by the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on Tuesday night.

Andrew Heaney had a rare poor start while the Pirates remained unable to solve Shota Imanaga and didn’t have any better luck against the bullpen.

The Pirates (11-19) will look to snap a three-game skid and even up their series with the Cubs (18-12) on Wednesday night at PNC Park.

First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

A pleasant evening for a ballgame with partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the 60s. Winds N at 6-7 mph.

RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (1-3, 6.95 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

It was more of the same for Mlodzinski in his last start against the Angels on Thursday, when he allowed three runs in 5.0 innings.

The right-hander was good the first time through the order but faltered as the game went on as questions continue to build if he should be moved back to the bullpen.

Mlodzinski has yet to allow a run in the first or second inning of any of his starts this season (10.0 innings pitched). However, he’s allowed a combined 17 runs in 12.0 innings (12.75 ERA) in innings three through five.

This will be Mlodzinski’s first start against the Cubs, but he’s made five relief appearances against them. In those five appearances, He’s 0-0 with a 2.45 ERA.

LHP Matthew Boyd (2-2, 2.54 ERA) vs. Will Start for the Cubs

Boyd’s first season with the Cubs is off to a good start, but he was knocked around his last time out.

Last Wednesday against the Dodgers, Boyd allowed six runs (three earned) on 10 hits in 6.0 innings. He allowed two homers, walked one and struck out four.

Combined between his first four starts of the season, the left-hander posted a 2.01 ERA and held opponents to a .596 OPS.

Boyd is winless (0-3) in five career starts against the Pirates. He has a 7.11 ERA (20er/25.1ip) against them.

Cubs Hitters vs. Mlodzinski

Miguel Amaya: 1 for 2, one home run, one RBI
Ian Happ: 1 for 2
Seiya Suzuki: 0 for 2, one walk, one strikeout
Pete Crow-Armstrong: 0 for 2

Pirates Hitters vs. Boyd

Andrew McCutchen: 3 for 8, one home run, two RBI
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 2 for 7, one double, one RBI, two strikeouts
Bryan Reynolds: 1 for 5, one walk, two strikeouts
Adam Frazier: 0 for 5, one walk, two strikeouts
Tommy Pham: 0 for 2, one walk, one strikeout

Tidbits

Andrew Heaney had a career-high scoreless streak of 19.1 innings dating back to his start against the Reds on Apr. 12 prior to allowing a two-run home run to Carson Kelly.
Pirates’ pitchers failed to record a strikeout against the Cubs on Tuesday. It’s the first time that’s happened since June 2, 2009.
Joey Bart finished the game 2 for 2 with a pair of walks. It marked the second time in his career that Bart reach base four times — the other came on Sept. 1, 2020.