Pirates

Pirates Preview: Kicking Off a West Coast Trip in Anaheim

Published

1 month ago

April 22, 2025

The Pittsburgh Pirates fell 5-4 in 10 innings on Sunday, capping off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Guardians at PNC Park.

The Pirates erased a three-run deficit in the ninth to force extra innings, but after the Guardians scored in the top of the 10th, the Bucs were unable to get a run home in the bottom of the inning.

After a needed day off on Monday, the Pirates (8-15) will be in Anaheim to play the Angels (11-10) on Tuesday night to kick off a six-game California road trip.

First pitch is set for 9:38 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Temperatures in the lower-60s with mostly sunny skies. Winds SW at 7-8 mph.

LHP Bailey Falter (1-2, 4.91 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Falter earned his first win of the season on Wednesday against the Nationals after an excellent start.

The left-handed tossed 7.0-scoreless innings on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Thanks to two double plays and a caught stealing, Falter faced the minimum.

In two starts leading up to his most recent, Falter allowed 12 runs (10 earned) in 9.0 innings pitched and took the loss both times.

The Angels are one of five teams Falter has yet to face in his career. In interleague play, Falter is 3-8 with a 5.07 ERA in 18 appearances/15 starts.

RHP José Soriano (2-2, 3.16 ERA) vs. Will Start for the Angels

Soriano once belonged to the Pirates’ organization after he was selected with the first pick in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft. He was returned 11 months later.

It’s been a good start to the season for Soriano, who has held opponents to a .651 OPS and only allowed a pair of home runs in 25.2 innings.

The right-hander was knocked around a little in his last start against the Rangers, however. Texas struck for three runs on 10 hits in 5.2 innings.

Soriano made one start agaisnt the Pirates in his career and allowed four runs in 4.2 innings.

Angels Hitters vs. Falter

Kevin Newman: 5 for 11, two doubles, one strikeout
Travis d’Arnaud: 3 for 7, one double, two strikeouts
J.D. Davis: 1 for 3, one double

Pirates Hitters vs. Soriano

Oneil Cruz: 2 for 3, one double, three RBIs
Joey Bart: 1 for 2, one double
Jack Suwinski: 1 for 2, one double
Andrew McCutchen: 0 for 2, one walk
Bryan Reynolds: 0 for 2, two strikeouts

Tidbits

Mitch Keller, who started on Easter, has received one run of support over his last five starts while he’s been in the game.
Bryan Reynolds is batting .500 (7 for 14) with a home run over his last three games.
Entering Tuesday’s game, the Pirates rank 29th in team batting average (.206) and 28th in both slugging percentage (.320) and OPS (.609).