Pirates

Pirates Preview: Jared Jones Gets Series Finale vs. Nationals

Published

1 month ago

September 8, 2024

Pittsburgh Pirates Jared Jones pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

The Pittsburgh Pirates were swept in a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals on Saturday.

Pittsburgh was no-hit through the first six innings in game one and fell 5-3 and blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning and lost 8-6.

The Pirates (66-76) will look to rebound in the series finale against the Nationals (64-78) behind rookie starter Jared Jones.

First pitch is set for 1:35 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

Mostly sunny skies with temperatures expected to reach 70 degrees. Winds W at 8-9 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Jared Jones (5-7, 3.91 ERA)

Jones delivered a quality start in his last outing against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The rookie right-hander tossed 6.1 innings and allowed three runs on six hits.

It was the second start for Jones since returning from the injured list on Aug. 27. He had been sidelined since the Fourth of July due to a right lat strain.

When he takes the mound against the Nats on Sunday, Jones will be seeking his first win since June 22.

This will be his first time facing the Nationals.

The Washington Nationals Will Send Out LHP Patrick Corbin (5-12, 5.41 ERA)

Corbin comes into his start against the Pirates on a roll. He’s won each of his last three starts and has a 1.53 ERA over that span.

Despite his recent success, the veteran left-hander has the worst ERA in baseball among qualified starting pitchers. Opponents are hitting .300 against him on the season.

Corbin operates with three primary pitches — a sinker, slider and cutter. He also possesses a four-seamer and changeup.

In 14 career starts against the Pirates, Corbin is 6-3 with a 3.07 ERA. The last time he faced the Bucs was last September at PNC Park. He tossed 6.2 innings of two-run ball.

Nationals Hitters vs. Jones

Pirates Hitters vs. Corbin

Andrew McCutchen: 12 for 50, three doubles, three home runs, nine RBIs, seven walks, nine strikeouts
Yasmani Grandal: 6 for 18, one double, one RBI, two walks, eight strikeouts
Bryan Reynolds: 5 for 16, two RBIs, three walks, four strikeouts
Bryan De La Cruz: 3 for 11, one double, one RBI, one walk, two strikeouts
Connor Joe: 2 for 11, one triple, one home run, three RBIs, two walks, two strikeouts
Michael A. Taylor: 3 for 7, one d0uble, one home run, one RBI, one strikeout
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 2 for 6
Rowdy Tellez: 0 for 5, one strikeout
Oneil Cruz: 0 for 4, three strikeouts
Joey Bart: 0 for 3, one walk, one strikeout

Tidbits

In the first game of the doubleheader, Luis Ortiz allowed a homer against Dylan Crews in the second. It snapped a career-high stretch of 16-straight scoreless inning.
Dennis Santana extended his scoreless innings streak to 16 after covering the eighth inning on Saturday night.
Mitch Keller allowed two runs in six innings in the nightcap. This was just the second time since the start of August that Keller completed six innings. He went at least six innings in 11 of his 14 starts from the beginning of May through the end of July