Pirates

Pirates Preview: Jared Jones Starts at Wrigley in Another Matchup With Cubs

Published

1 year ago

May 16, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates were crushed 10-2 by the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Wednesday’s rubber match.

Starting pitcher Martín Pérez surrendered five home runs while on the mound for the Pirates (19-25) as Milwaukee scored 10 unanswered runs until Andrew McCutchen belted a solo home run in the seventh.

Now for the second time in their last three series, the Pirates will take on the Chicago Cubs (25-19)

First pitch is set for 7:40 ET and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

Cloudy skies and temperatures in the upper-60s with a chance for a thunderstorm during the game. Winds SW at 9-12 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Jared Jones (2-4, 2.68 ERA)

Jones pitched against the Cubs at PNC Park on Friday and allowed three runs (two earned) in in six innings pitched. The Cubs won the game 7-2.

It’s been quite a season for Jones, who ranks sixth in the National League in strikeout-to-walk ratio (10.72) and is ninth in the Senior Circuit with 56 strikeouts.

Among rookies, Jones is tops in strikeouts and is tied atop the leaderboard with five quality starts.

Jones’ last start was his first against the Cubs.

The Chicago Cubs Will Send Out LHP Justin Steele (0-0, 4.73 ERA)

Steele was on the mound for the Cubs opposite Paul Skenes when the latter made his MLB debut on Saturday.

The usually-steady Steele struggled against the Pirates in an eventful game that evening. The Pirates crossed home six times against him in that start and pulled out a 10-9 victory.

Prior to his dud in Pittsburgh, Steele had been charged with one run in 9.1 innings pitched across two starts to begin his season.

In his career against Pittsburgh, Steele is 1-2 with a 6.46 ERA across seven appearances/six starts.

Cubs Hitters vs. Jones

Cody Bellinger: 2 for 3, one double, one home run, one RBI
Miguel Amaya: 1 for 3
Michael Busch: 1 for 3, one double, two strikeouts
Ian Happ: 1 for 3, one strikeout
Nico Hoerner: 1 for 3
Christopher Morel: 1 for 3
Nick Madrigal: 0 for 3

Pirates Hitters vs. Steele

Andrew McCutchen: 2 for 17, one walk, four strikeouts
Bryan Reynolds: 3 for 15, one home run, one RBI, one walk, four strikeouts
Connor Joe: 6 for 10, one home run, three RBIs. two walks, one strikeout
Rowdy Tellez: 1 for 9, one RBI, one walk, five strikeouts
Oneil Cruz: 2 for 5, one double, one home run, two RBIs, two strikeouts
Jack Suwinski: 1 for 5, one RBI, two strikeouts
Jared Triolo: 1 for 4, two strikeouts
Alika Williams: 0 for 3, one strikeout
Michael A. Taylor: 2 for 2, one home run, two RBIs

Tidbits

Andrew McCutchen has multiple hits in three of his last five games and is batting .400 with a 1.178 OPS over that stretch.
Since starting the season 9-2, the Pirates have gone 10-23 over their last 33 games, good for a 49-win pace over a 162-game season.
The Pirates went 2-4 at Wrigley Field last season and 3-10 against the Cubs overall. The Bucs won one of three games in their first series of 2024.