Pirates Preview: Step Right up and Sweep the Mets?

Danny Demilio |

Jun 29, 2025

The Pittsburgh Pirates thumped the New York Mets for the second-straight day, winning 9-2 in a rain-interrupted game at PNC Park on Saturday.

The offense collected 12 hits for the second straight game while the bullpen worked 7.1 scoreless innings in the win.

The Pirates (34-50) will go for their second series sweep of the season on Sunday name in the Mets (48-36) on Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh.

First pitch is set for 1:35 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Hot and sunny. Temperatures creeping into the high 80s with winds WSW at 4-5 mph.

RHP Mike Burrows (1-2, 4.45 ERA) Will Start For the Pirates

Burrows last pitched against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, a relief appearance in which he threw 2.1-scoreless innings.

It was the first appearance out of the bullpen for Burrows this season, who began with six starts with the Pirates and posted a 4.82 ERA after he was recalled on May 21.

Burrows allowed two runs or fewer in each of his first four June starts and has a 3.20 ERA over that stretch.

This will be his first time facing the Mets.

RHP Frankie Montas (0-0, 0.00 ERA) Will Start For the Mets

Montas missed much of the season with a lat strain but made his season debut on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves.

It was a solid debut for the the right-hander, who threw 5.0-shutout innings on three hits with three walks and five strikeouts.

Montas split last season between the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers and went 7-11 with a 4.84 ERA across 30 starts. He joined the Mets as a free agent this winter.

Montas allowed one run in 6.0 innings in his lone start against the Pirates.

Mets Hitters vs. Burrows

Juan Soto: 0 for 1, one walk

Pirates Hitters vs. Montas

Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 4 for 13, one walk, two strikeouts
Tommy Pham: 2 for 9, one home run, one RBI, four strikeouts
Adam Frazier: 3 for 8, one RBI

Tidbits

The Pirates are 12-3 against teams from the National League East at PNC Park this season and are 23-9 against the East in Pittsburgh since the start of 2024. With their win over the Mets on Saturday, the Pirates are 8-0-2 in the 10 series that make up that stretch.
Ke’Bryan Hayes is batting .417 (10 for 24) with a .920 OPS and six RBI during his seven-game hit streak.
Mike Burrows has a 2.86 ERA in the month of June. That’s the seventh-best mark among National League right-handers with at least 20 innings pitched.