Pirates

Pirates Preview: Like the Season to Date, the Forecast is Bleak

Published

3 weeks ago

May 3, 2025

Photo provided by Matt Lynch

The Pittsburgh Pirates hung around for a while but fell 9-4 to the San Diego Padres in the opening game of a series on Friday night.

Adam Frazier homered to bring the Pirates within a run in the sixth inning, but the Padres scored four unanswered runs in the final two innings to propel them to victory.

Having lost six of eight, the Pirates (12-21) will look to right the ship against the Padres (20-11) if the weather permits.

First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Chance of rain showers throughout the day with temperatures in the lower-60s. Winds W at 7 mph.

LHP Bailey Falter (1-3, 5.93 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Falter pitched 4.1 innings and allowed seven runs (five earned) on eight hits with two walks and strikeouts in his last start against the Dodgers on Sunday.

Since throwing 7.0-shutout innings against the Nationals on Apr. 16, Falter has allowed 10 runs (eight earned) over his last 8.1 innings spanning two starts.

Falter has only worked into the sixth inning in two of his six starts this season and has yet to eclipse 90 pitches.

In three career appearances (one start) against the Padres, Falter is 0-1 with a 7.36 ERA (3er/3.2ip).

RHP Randy Vásquez (1-3, 4.28 ERA) Will Start for the Padres

Vásquez last pitched against the Rays on Sunday and allowed three runs on five hits in 4.2 innings.

The right-hander had a 1.72 ERA through his first four starts of the season but has a 12.15 ERA (9er/6.2ip) over his last two starts. Opponents are hitting .345 against him during that span.

High walk totals and low strikeouts have been problems for Vásquez. In 27.1 innings, he’s walked 19 and struck out only 10.

Vásquez has made two appearances against the Pirates and hasn’t taken a decision and has a 3.86 ERA (3er/7.0ip).

Padres Hitters vs. Falter

Elias Díaz: 2 for 3, one walk, one strikeout
Martín Maldonado: 2 for 2, one double, one RBI
Luis Arraez: 1 for 2, one double, one walk

Pirates Hitters vs. Vásquez

Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 0 for 5
Oneil Cruz: 2 for 3, one RBI
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 1 for 3
Joey Bart: 0 for 3, one strikeout
Bryan Reynolds: 1 for 2

Tidbits

Padres manager Mike Shildt is 26-5 (.839) in his career at PNC Park. That’s the highest winning percentage of any manager in any stadium in MLB history (min. 25 games).
Oneil Cruz stole two bases, extending his steak to 34-consecutive stolen base attempts. That’s the second-longest streak by any Pirate since 1922 behind Max Carey (37, 1922-23).
The Pirates are 33-55 since they were 55-52 and 2.0 games out of a Wild Card spot at last year’s trade deadline. That’s a 61-101 pace over a 162-game season.