Pirates

Pirates Preview: Jared Jones, Bucs Head to Yankee Stadium for Final Series

Published

1 week ago

September 27, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates wrapped up the home portion of their 2024 schedule with a 5-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday afternoon.

Mitch Keller took the loss after allowing three runs in five innings. Both Pirates’ runs came courtesy of Bryan De La Cruz, who hit an opposite field two-run homer in the seventh.

There are only three more games left for the Pirates (74-85) this season. They’ll travel to New York for the start of a weekend series against the American League East champion Yankees (93-66) on Friday night.

First pitch is set for 7:05 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

A comfortable fall night with overcast skies and temperatures in the upper-60s. Winds E at 6 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Jared Jones (6-8, 4.14 ERA)

Jones was rocked by the Reds in Cincinnati during the Pirates’ most last road trip. He was tagged for six runs on six hits, including a pair of home runs, in five innings.

It’s been a rough stretch for Jones since he returned from the injured list for his start on Aug. 27. In five outings, the rookie right-hander has a 6.15 ERA (18er/26.1ip).

Jones’ 125 strikeouts are good for sixth-most amongst rookie pitchers and his .231 opponent batting average ranks eighth.

This will be his first time facing the Yankees.

The New York Yankees Will Send Out LHP Carlos Rodón (16-9, 3.98 ERA)

Rodón is coming off a start against the Oakland A’s in which he tossed six-shutout innings and got the win.

With 16 wins, the left-hander is tied with three others for the second-most wins in baseball. Only Cy Young frontrunners Chris Sale (18) and Tarik Skubal (18) have more.

Rodón throws his four-seamer 49% of the time and has four other pitches — a slider, changeup, curveball and cutter.

In five career starts against the Pirates. Rodón is 3-2 with a 3.99 ERA. He last faced Pittsburgh last September when he allowed three runs and struck out 10 in 6.2 innings in the Pirates’ 3-2 win.

Yankees Hitters vs. Jones

Jazz Chisholm: 0 for 2, one walk, two strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Rodón

Connor Joe: 5 for 7, one home run, one RBI, one walk
Bryan Reynolds: 0 for 7, one walk, four strikeouts
Andrew McCutchen: 2 for 4, two RBIs
Jared Triolo: 2 for 3, two doubles
Oneil Cruz: 1 for 3, one double, one strikeout
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 1 for 3, one strikeout
Liover Peguero: 1 for 3, one RBI, one strikeout
Bryan De La Cruz: 0 for 3, one strikeout

Tidbits

In 13 starts during the second half of the season, Mitch Keller went 1-7 with a 5.65 ERA.
The Pirates finished with the same 39-42 record at home as they did in 2023. They haven’t had a winning record at PNC Park since going 44-36 in 2018.
Andrew McCutchen needs one more run for tying Arky Vaugh (936) for the 10th-most runs in Pirates’ history.