Pirates

Pirates Preview: Jared Jones Returns to Face Cubs

Published

1 month ago

August 27, 2024

Things couldn’t have gone much worse for the Pittsburgh Pirates in an 18-8 loss against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on Monday night.

The Pirates (62-69) allowed a season-high 21 hits while the Cubs (66-66) went a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen base attempts in one of the worst-played games of the season for Pittsburgh.

They’ll look to rebound on Tuesday night as rookie starter Jared Jones make his return from the injured list.

First pitch is set for 6:40 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

Mostly clear skies with temperatures in the 90s. Winds SW at 7 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Jared Jones (5-6, 3.56 ERA)

Jones has been sidelined since the Fourth of July with a right lat strain.

The rookie right-hander made three rehab assignments with Triple-A Indianapolis and allowed seven runs (six earned) on nine hits in 11 innings pitched. In his last outing, he struck out 10 batters and allowed one hit in five innings against the Columbus Clippers.

At the time of his injury, Jones was second amongst rookie pitchers with 98 strikeouts and 91 innings pitched.

Jones faced the Cubs in back-to-back starts in May and split a pair of decisions after allowing six runs (five earned) in 12 innings pitched.

The Chicago Cubs Will Send Out LHP Justin Steele (4-5, 3.07 ERA)

Steele has been lights out in August. Combined between four outings, the left-hander is 2-0 with a 1.66 ERA and has struck out 27 in 21.2 innings. Opponents are slashing .175/.224/.263 against Steele over the span.

Among starters with at least 120 innings pitched, Steele ranks seventh in baseball in ERA.

Expect to see a heavy dosage of four-seamers from Steele. He uses the pitch 60% of the time. Steele’s main off-speed pitch is a slider and he also has a sinker, curveball and changeup.

Steele has faced the Pirates twice this season and allowed 11 runs (10 earned) in 9.1 innings pitched. In eight career appearances against Pittsburgh, he’s 1-3 with a 6.44 ERA.

Cubs Hitters vs. Jones

Cody Bellinger: 3 for 6, two doubles, one home run, two RBIs
Michael Busch: 2 for 6, two doubles, four strikeouts
Ian Happ: 2 for 6, one home run, one RBI, one strikeout
Miguel Amaya: 1 for 5, one RBI
Mike Tauchman: 1 for 5, one walk, two strikeouts
Nico Hoerner: 1 for 3
Seiya Suzuki: 1 for 3, one strikeout

Pirates Hitters vs. Steele

Bryan Reynolds: 4 for 18, one double, one home run, two RBIs, one walk, four strikeouts
Connor Joe: 7 for 13, one home run, three RBIs, two walks, one strikeout
Rowdy Tellez: 1 for 9, one RBI, one walk, five strikeouts
Oneil Cruz: 2 for 8, one double, one home run, two RBIs, three strikeouts
Bryan De La Cruz: 2 for 7, two strikeouts
Nick Gonzales: 1 for 5, one home run, one RBI
Yasmani Grandal: 1 for 5, one strikeout
Jared Triolo: 1 for 4, two strikeouts
Alika Williams: 0 for 4, two strikeouts
Michael A. Taylor: 3 for 3, one double, one home run, two RBIs, one walk

Tidbits

Brady Feigl made his MLB debut in Monday’s loss. At 33 years and 243 days old, he became the seventh-oldest player in Pirates’ history to make his big-league debut.
Bryan Reynolds connected on his 20th home run of the season, making him one of seven players in team history to produce four-straight seasons of 20-plus home runs.
The Cubs’ eight stolen bases were the most they had in a game since 1913. Entering play, the Pirates hadn’t allowed an opponent to steal more than three bases in one game all season.