Pirates Preview: Chance to Split Series Against Fish

Danny Demilio |

Jun 25, 2023

Pittsburgh Pirates, Johan Oviedo — Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Johan Oviedo reacts as he walks off the field after the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Sunday, April 30, 2023, in Washington. Washington scored two runs against Oviedo in the first. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

After snapping their 10-game losing streak, the Pittsburgh Pirates (35-41) were back in the loss column after falling 4-3 to the Miami Marlins (44-34) in 11 innings on Saturday.

Down 2-0 in the eighth, the Pirates rallied to force extras and took a 3-2 lead in the top of the 10th, but were walked-off by Miami on a Jon Berti single in the 11th.

Andrew McCutchen recorded his 400th career double and 300th with the Pirates in the loss and finished the game with a pair of two-baggers.

The Pirates have a chance to split the series against Miami after being swept in each of their last three series prior to this four-gamer.

First pitch at loanDepot Park is scheduled for 1:40. The broadcast will be aired on AT&T Sportsnet.

Weather

loanDepot park is a dome, so no worries about the weather for this series.

The Pirates will send out RHP Johan Oviedo (3-7, 4.30 ERA)

Oviedo is coming off of a strong last outing in which he limited the Chicago Cubs to two runs in six innings at PNC Park.

The big right-hander has lost his last four decisions with his last win coming on May 19 against the Diamondbacks, a game in which he held Arizona to one run in six innings.

Oviedo has been good in the month of June. In four starts, he owns a 3.80 ERA (10er/23.2ip).

Oviedo faced the Marlins one previous time in his career and tossed seven shutout innings. In that start, he allowed six hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out four.

The Marlins will send out RHP Eury Perez (4-1, 1.54 ERA)

The 20-year-old Perez has been excellent for the Marlins in his rookie season since being recalled from Double-A last month.

In his last five starts, the right-hander has been flat-out dominant. In 27 innings over those five outings, Perez has allowed just a single run, giving him an immaculate 0.33 ERA over that span.

Perez has limited opponents to a .182 batting average against along with a measley .604 OPS against.

Marlins Hitters vs. Oviedo

Jon Berti: 2 for 3
Jesus Sanchez: 1 for 3
Garrett Hampson: 1 for 3

Pirates Hitters vs. Perez

No Pirates’ players have faced Perez

Tidbits

In addition to two doubles in Saturday’s game, McCutchen also drew three walks as he reached base in all five plate appearances in the game.
In the ninth inning, Nick Gonzales drew a walk and scored the tying run for the Pirates. Both were the first in his career.
The Pirates have lost 11 of their last 12 games with their only win over that span coming on Friday night in Miami.