Pirates

Pirates Preview: Priester and Bucs Hoping to Keep Things Rolling

Published

4 months ago

May 7, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Los Angeles Angels 4-1 in the first game of a three-game series at PNC Park on Monday night.

Mitch Keller hurled a complete game — the second of his career — and Edward Olivares provided all the offense with one swing on a grand slam in the third inning.

The Pirates (17-19) will look to make it four straight wins and Quinn Priester will look for his third-straight quality start when they take on the Angels (12-23) on Tuesday.

The game is scheduled for 6:40 ET and the game will be televised on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

80 degrees at first pitch with mostly cloudy skies. Winds SW at 6-7 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Quinn Priester (0-2, 3.31 ERA)

After throwing six shutout innings against the Giants in San Francisco, Priester held the Oakland A’s to two runs in six innings in his last start.

The Pirates’ right-hander has put together back-to-back solid starts after struggling in his season debut against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park.

While he’s been successful overall, home runs continue to plague Priester. He’s yielded five round-trippers in 16.1 innings on the year.

This will be Priester’s first time facing the Halos.

The Los Angeles Angels Will Send Out LHP Patrick Sandoval (1-5, 5.91 ERA)

Sandoval has been a reliable starter for the Angels for most of his career but hasn’t gotten good results so far this season.

The underlying metrics, however, indicate the left-hander has been the victim of bad luck.

His 3.19 FIP is nearly three points below his season ERA and he’s struck out 38 batters in 32 innings pitched.

The Pirates are one of four teams Sandoval has yet to face in his career.

Angels Hitters vs. Priester

Pirates Hitters vs. Sandoval

Yasmani Grandal: 1 for 4, one RBI, two walks, one strikeout
Edward Olivares: 1 for 3

Tidbits

Edward Olivares’ gave the Pirates their second grand slam of the year, which already matches their team total from 2023. Jack Suwinski hit a grand slam earlier this season on Apr. 14.
Quinn Priester has been charged with two earned runs in his last 12 innings pitched (1.50 ERA). He had been charged with 47 earned runs in his first 54.1 innings pitched (7.79 ERA)
Michael A. Taylor has only seven hits in his last 58 at-bats (.121) and hasn’t driven in a run since Apr. 3.