Pirates

Pirates Preview: Rubber Match at Dodger Stadium

Published

4 weeks ago

April 27, 2025

In a largely back-and-forth game, the Pittsburgh Pirates were ultimately defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-4 on Saturday night.

Oneil Cruz drove in three runs but Colin Holderman struggled in the eighth inning in his first game back from the injured list and took the loss for Pittsburgh.

The Pirates (11-17) will try for a series win in a rubber match against the Dodgers (17-10) on Sunday.

First pitch is set for 4:10 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh, MLB Network and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

A pleasant day for baseball with temperatures in the low-60s and partly sunny skies. Winds SW at 8-10 mph.

LHP Bailey Falter (1-2, 5.19 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Falter left his last start after just 4.0 innings and 65 with low back tightness. He allowed three runs on five hits with five strikeouts in a 9-3 win over the Angels.

The start before his most recent, Falter had his best performance of the season. The left-hander threw 7.0 innings of two-hit shutout ball against the Guardians at PNC Park.

Falter will have to face several tough left-handed hitters including MVPs Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. The Pirates’ starter has reverse splits this season as lefties are slashing .409/.462/.682 against him whereas righties are batting .211/.260/.394.

In three appearances/two starts against the Dodgers, Falter is 0-1 with a 7.36 ERA.

RHP Tyler Glasnow (1-0, 3.71 ERA) vs. Will Start for the Dodgers

Glasnow will get the start against the Pirates, with whom he totaled 56 appearances from 2016-18 before he was dealt to Tampa in the Chris Archer trade.

Like Falter, Glasnow left his last start after 4.0 innings due to leg cramps. Prior to his premature exit, Glasnow held the Rangers scoreless on three hits with six strikeouts.

Over his last 10.0 innings pitched, Glasnow has allowed two runs with 13 strikeouts while opponents are hitting just .167 against him.

In two previous meetings with the Pirates, the tall right-hander is 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA.

Dodgers Hitters vs. Falter

Miguel Rojas: 3 for 11, one RBI, one strikeout
Teoscar Hernández: 4 for 9, two doubles, two home runs, five RBI, one strikeout
Enrique Hernández: 2 for 6, one strikeout
Shohei Ohtani: 1 for 6, two strikeouts
Freddie Freeman: 2 for 5, one double, one home run, three RBI, one walk, one strikeout
Mookie Betts: 1 for 4, one walk
Tommy Edman: 0 for 4, one walk, one strikeout
Andy Pages: 2 for 3, one double, one walk, one strikeout
Will Smith: 1 for 3, one double, one RBI
Michael Conforto: 1 for 3, one home run, three RBI

Pirates Hitters vs. Glasnow

Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 1 for 10, three strikeouts
Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 6
Enmanuel Valdez: 2 for 6, two strikeouts
Andrew McCutchen: 1 for 6, one home run, two RBI, one walk, two strikeouts
Adam Frazier: 1 for 5, one RBI, two walks, one strikeout
Oneil Cruz: 0 for 5, one walk, three strikeouts
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 0 for 5, one walk
Tommy Pham: 1 for 4, one walk
Joey Bart: 1 for 3, one strikeout

Tidbits

Oneil Cruz is the first Pirates’ player with four leadoff home runs in a nine-game span since at least 1900.
Cruz’ eight home runs in March/April are the third-most by a Pirate in a single season since at least 1901 behind Willie Stargell (11, 1971) and Jeff King (9, 1996).
David Bednar needs one more save to eclipse Felipe Vazquez for sole possession of fifth place on the Pirates’ all-time list. Both players have 86 saves.