Pirates

Pirates Preview: One More Left on the Home Slate

Published

10 hours ago

September 26, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates rebounded after dropping the opening game of the series to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 on Wednesday night.

Luis Ortiz held Milwaukee to one run across seven innings and Liover Peguero, who was making his season debut, delivered a clutch two-run double in the fourth.

The Pirates (74-84) will try and win the series against the Brewers (90-68) in the final game at PNC Park in 2024 on Thursday afternoon.

First pitch is set for 12:35 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

Overcast skies with temperatures in the low-to-mid 70s. Winds ESE at 5 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Mitch Keller (11-11, 4.21 ERA)

Keller’s late-season struggles continued in his most recent start against the Cincinnati Reds last week. The right-hander tied a career-high by allowing eight runs across 3.1 innings pitched.

In 11 starts in the second half of the season, Keller is just 1-6 with a 5.68 ERA. Up until the All-Star break, Keller was 10-5 with a 3.46 ERA.

Keller’s last win came on Aug. 20 when he threw seven-scoreless innings against the Rangers in Texas. Since then, the Pirates have lost all five of his starts with Keller taking the loss in four of them.

In two starts against Milwaukee this season, Keller is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA. In eight career starts against the Brewers, he’s 1-4 with a 5.44 ERA.

The Milwaukee Brewers Will Send Out RHP Aaron Civale (7-9, 4.53 ERA)

Civale took the loss in his last start after allowing three runs in 4.1 innings agaisnt the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend.

Overall, the righty has pitched well since early August. In his last eight starts, Civale has gone 5-1 with a .293 ERA while holding opponents to a .215 batting average.

The Brewers acquired Civale from the Tampa Bay Rays in early July. Since joining Milwaukee, he’s 5-3 with a 3.84 ERA.

Civale faced the Pirates twice already this season — once with the Rays and once with the Brewers. Though he’s 0-1, he’s only allowed two runs in 11.1 innings.

Brewers Hitters vs. Keller

Willy Adames: 6 for 23 two doubles, one home run, four RBIs, one walk, seven strikeouts
William Contreras: 5 for 13, two home runs, three RBIs, one walk, one strikeout
Rhys Hoskins: 6 for 9, two doubles, one triple, three RBIs, one walk, one strikeout
Brice Turang: 3 for 8, one home run, three RBIs, two strikeouts
Jake Bauers: 2 for 6, one RBI, two strikeouts
Sal Frelick: 2 for 6, one double, two RBIs, three walks, two strikeouts
Joey Ortiz: 2 for 5, one double, one strikeout
Andruw Monasterio: 1 for 3, one strikeout
Blake Perkins: 0 for 3, two strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Civale

Yasmani Grandal: 2 for 16, two doubles, one RBI, seven strikeouts
Bryan Reynolds: 3 for 13, two home runs, three RBIs, two strikeouts
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 2 for 12, one RBI, one strikeout
Nick Gonzales: 3 for 5, one RBI
Bryan De La Cruz: 1 for 5, two strikeouts
Oneil Cruz: 1 for 4, one walk, two strikeouts
Jared Triolo: 1 for 4
Joshua Palacios: 0 for 3, one strikeout

Tidbits

Aroldis Chapman collected his 95th strikeout, setting the franchise single-season record by a Pirates’ relief pitcher.
Ortiz’s seven innings matched a season-high. He threw seven-shutout innings agaisnt the Philadelphia Phillies at PNC Park on July 20.
In addition to going for the series win over the Brewers, the Pirates will try and win their first season series against Milwaukee since 2018. Since the start of 2019, the Pirates have gone 33-59 against their division counterparts.