Pirates

Pirates Preview: Luis Ortiz Makes First Start This Season in Rubber Match vs. Reds

Published

7 months ago

June 26, 2024

After a bad loss on Monday, the Pittsburgh Pirates rebounded with a 9-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.

The Pirates’ offense recorded 10 hits for the second-straight game, led by Bryan Reynolds, who extended his hitting streak to 22 games with a two-run home run in the first.

As the Pirates (38-41) go for the series win over the Reds (37-42) on Wednesday, Luis Ortiz will make his first start of the season.

First pitch is set for 1:10 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

A chance for a thunderstorm at first pitch with temperatures around 80 degrees. Winds SW at 8 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Luis Ortiz (3-2, 3.45 ERA)

Ortiz has made 21 relief appearances with the last three coming in a bulk role following an opener.

The right-hander has had a good season but struggled his last time out. Ortiz was tagged for six runs on 10 hits in four innings against the Rays at PNC Park last week.

As a starting pitcher in his career, Ortiz has a 4.85 ERA (19 starts) compared to a 3.56 ERA in 24 relief appearances.

Ortiz has made two appearances against the Reds and has a 2.89 ERA against them. He made his MLB debut in Cincinnati in 2022 and threw 5.1 spectacular innings.

The Cincinnati Reds Will Send Out RHP Graham Ashcraft (4-3, 5.05 ERA)

The Reds will recall Ashcraft from Triple-A Louisville to start against the Pirates on Wednesday. Ashcraft had been optioned on June 6.

Ashcraft had a 6.83 ERA over his last six starts prior to getting sent down.

In Triple-A, the right-hander made a pair of starts and allowed four runs in 12 innings and struck out a dozen.

In three appearances against the Pirates, Ashcraft is 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA.

Reds Hitters vs. Ortiz

Spencer Steer: 0 for 4, two strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Ashcraft

Rowdy Tellez: 3 for 9, one double, two RBIs, two walks, two strikeouts
Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 9, one home run, one RBI, one walk, three strikeouts
Andrew McCutchen: 2 for 7, two doubles, one walk, two strikeouts
Oneil Cruz: 1 for 6, one strikeout
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 0 for 6
Connor Joe: 4 for 5, one double one strikeout
Jason Delay: 0 for 3, two strikeouts

Tidbits

Bryan Reynolds’ 22-game hitting streak is the longest by a major-leaguer this season.
By going 5.2 innings on Tuesday, Mitch Keller extended his streak of working at least five innings to 47-straight starts.
Nick Gonzales finished 3 for 4 in the win. Entering play, he had just one hit over his last 23 at-bats.