Pirates

Pirates Preview: How Will Bucs Follow Friday’s Onslaught?

Published

3 months ago

July 6, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ offense exploded in a 14-2 win over the New York Mets at PNC Park on Friday night.

The Pirates matched a franchise record with seven home runs. Bryan Reynolds and Rowdy Tellez each homered twice and hit a grand slam. On the mound, Paul Skenes improved to 5-0 with seven-strong innings.

The Pirates (42-45) and Mets (42-44) will continue their four-game series on Saturday evening in a battle of southpaws.

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

Weather

Sunny skies with temperatures in the mid-80’s. Winds WSW at 14 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out LHP Bailey Falter (4-6, 3.87 ERA)

Falter snapped a stretch of four-straight losses by earning the win in his last start against the Braves in Atlanta.

The left-hander worked five innings and held the Braves to one run on a pair of hits. He walked four and struck out five.

It was a good end to an otherwise rough month of June. In his first four starts of the month, Falter went 0-4 with a 6.63 ERA and a .359 opponent batting average.

Falter has done well against the Mets in his career. In five appearance/four starts, he’s 1-2 with a 2.95 ERA. Falter faced the Mets at Citi Field in April and allowed two runs in five innings.

The New York Mets Will Send Out LHP David Peterson (3-0, 3.51 ERA)

Peterson began the season on the injured list with a torn labrum in his hip but has pitched well since being activated.

He’s made six starts and has been charged with 13 earned runs in 33.1 innings with 14 walks and 22 strikeouts.

Though he’s still been effective, Peterson’s strikeout rate is significantly down from the last couple years. From 2022-23, he struck out 254 batters in 216.2 innings (10.6 strikeouts per nine). This year, he’s averaging 5.9 strikeouts per nine.

Peterson has made a pair of appearance against Pittsburgh and has allowed two runs in six innings.

Mets Hitters vs. Falter

Brandon Nimmo: 3 for 10, one home run, one RBI, one walk, four strikeouts
Francisco Lindor: 2 for 8, three walks, one strikeout
Pete Alonso: 1 for 8, one home run, three RBIs, one walk, one strikeout
Jeff McNeil: 1 for 8, two strikeouts
Tyrone Taylor: 2 for 6, one strikeout
Ben Gamel: 0 for 5, one strikeout
Francisco Alvarez: 2 for 4

Pirates Hitters vs. Peterson

Andrew McCutchen: 1 for 11, one home run, one RBI, three strikeouts, four walks
Joey Bart: 1 for 5, two strikeouts
Michael A. Taylor: 0 for 5, one strikeout
Bryan Reynolds: 0 for 4, two strikeouts

Tidbits

Bryan Reynolds and Rowdy Tellez became the first teammates in MLB history to hit grand slams as part of two-home run performances in the same game.
Friday’s win was the first time since 1974 that the Pirates had two players with five or more RBIs in the same game. Reynolds drove in six runs and Tellez drove in five.
Paul Skenes has struck out at least seven batters in seven-consecutive starts, tying the franchise record for longest such streak.