Pirates

Pirates Preview: Jared Jones Looks to Get Back on Track vs. Rays

Published

9 months ago

June 22, 2024

Danny Demilio

The Pittsburgh Pirates were smacked 10-3 by the Tampa Bay Rays at PNC Park on Friday night.

The bullpen games that had been so effective for the Pirates (36-39) of late turned sour against the Rays (37-39).

The Bucs will look to even the series against Tampa Bay with rookie Jared Jones making his 15th start of the season on Saturday.

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

Weather

Blazing. 96 degrees at start time with sunny skies and winds SW at 7 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Jared Jones (4-6, 3.76 ERA)

Jones’ strong rookie season has taken a bit of a tumble of late. Over his last six starts, the right-hander has a 5.34 ERA.

In his last start against the Rockies at Coors Field, Jones allowed six runs on six hits and four walks in 4.2 innings pitched.

Jones still ranks second against MLB rookies with 85 strikeouts. He is tied for the rookie league with eight quality starts and is in the top 10 in WHIP (1.13) and opponents batting average (.226).

This will be his first time facing Tampa. He’s 0-2 with a 5.28 ERA in three interleague starts.

The Tampa Bay Rays Will Send Out RHP Zach Eflin (3-4, 4.12 ERA)

Eflin finished sixth in the American League Cy Young voting last season and although he’s having a solid year this year, he hasn’t matched his 2023 success.

In his last start against the Atlanta Braves, the right-hander allowed four runs (three earned), walked one and struck out seven.

The right-hander’s strikeouts have dropped considerably from last season but he’s still featured excellent control by only walking five batters in 74.1 innings.

Eflin has made three starts against the Pirates and is 2-1 with a 1.35 ERA. He threw a complete-game shutout in Pittsburgh in 2016 while with the Phillies.

Rays Hitters vs. Jones

Pirates Hitters vs. Eflin

Yasmani Grandal: 3 for 11, three home runs, four RBIs, three walks, four strikeouts
Andrew McCutchen: 1 for 9, one walk, four strikeouts
Michael A. Taylor: 1 for 7, one double, one RBI, one strikeout
Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 5, one RBI, two strikeouts
Connor Joe: 0 for 5, two strikeouts
Rowdy Tellez: 0 for 4, one strikeout
Jack Suwinski: 0 for 3, two strikeouts

Tidbits

Bryan Reynolds homered for the Pirates in Friday’s loss, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 19 games.
Luis Ortiz was tagged for six runs in four innings against the Rays. His season ERA spiked from 2.51 to 3.45.
The Rays collected 17 hits in the series opener, the most hits the Pirates have allowed in a game this season.