Pirates Preview: Staying in the Bay for a Series With the A’s

The Pittsburgh Pirates were defeated 3-2 by the San Francisco Giants in the rubber match at Oracle Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Pirates (14-15) were again unable to do much offensively and had a chance to at least tie the game in the ninth with a tying run on second but came up short.

The Pirates will remain in the Bay Area for a start of a three-game series with the Oakland A’s (12-17) starting Monday night.

First pitch is scheduled for 9:40 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

Temperatures in the mid-60s with winds blowing WNW at 12-13 mph. Mostly sunny skies.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out LHP Bailey Falter (2-1, 3.33 ERA)

Falter has provided a steady presence in the Pirates’ rotation since the second inning of his season debut against the Marlins in Miami.

Since allowing five runs in the first inning in that game, Falter has posted a 1.73 ERA and held opponents to a .154 batting average.

In his last start against the Brewers, Falter pitched into the eighth inning for the first time in his career. He matched a career-high with eight strikeouts and allowed one run on three hits in seven innings.

Falter has faced the A’s one time in his career and allowed two runs on four hits in 2.1 innings out of the bullpen.

The Oakland A’s Will Send Out RHP Joe Boyle (1-4, 7.06 ERA)

Boyle was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds at last year’s trade deadline and has made eight starts with the A’s between 2023-24.

After allowing just one run across 10 innings pitched from Apr. 7-13, Boyle has been charged with nine runs in nine innings pitched over his last two starts.

The right-hander is a hard thrower and is capable of generating strikeouts but also struggles with control.

In four starts in his home yard, Boyle is 1-2 with a 4.32 ERA.

A’s Hitters vs. Falter

• J.D. Davis: 1 for 3, one double

Pirates Hitters vs. Boyle

• N/A

Tidbits

• Falter’s four-seam fastball is tied for the fourth-most valuable pitch in baseball by Statcast.
• Rowdy Tellez hit his first two doubles of the season in Sunday’s loss. The two-baggers were his second and third extra-base hits of the season.
• The Pirates’ next three series are against the A’s, Rockies and Angels. The trio of teams have a collective record of 29-56 (.341).

Links

Pirates Prospect Profile: Lonnie White Jr. Wants to Make Up for Lost Time

Pirates Prospect Watch: Termarr Johnson Hits First Homer

Pittsburgh Pirates: 3 Takeaways From the End of Another Disappointing April Series

Pirates’ Offense Struggles Again in Loss to Giants

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