Pirates

Pirates Preview: Will the ‘Buc’ Stop With Jared Jones on the Mound?

Published

2 weeks ago

May 4, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped their fifth-straight game in a 3-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Friday night at PNC Park.

The Pirates (14-19) were getting blanked until the ninth inning when Oneil Cruz belted a two-run home run into the Allegheny River but the Rockies (8-24) held on for the win.

The Bucs will try and finally put an end to their losing streak and prolonged dry spell on Saturday in another matchup with the Rockies.

Saturday’s first pitch is 4:05 ET and the game will be televised on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

Cloudy skies and temperatures in the 60s throughout the game. Chance of rain with winds blowing ESE at 9-10 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Jared Jones (2-3, 3.18 ERA)

Jones’ streak of seven-plus strikeouts in the first five starts of his career came to an end in an unusually pedestrian start against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.

In that last outing, Jones allowed three runs on six hits including back-to-back home runs and struck out three batters in five innings.

Among qualified rookies, Jones is tied with the Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto for the most strikeouts with 42.

This will be his first start against the Rockies.

The Colorado Rockies Will Send Out LHP Austin Gomber (0-2, 4.50 ERA)

Gomber has had an up and down start to his fourth season pitching for the Rockies.

The left-hander worked seven innings against the Houston Astros last weekend in Mexico and allowed four runs and three homers.

Prior to his subpar showing south of the border, Gomber had a string of three solid starts in which he combined for a 3.31 ERA across 16.1 innings pitched.

Gomber has made eight starts against the Pirates in his career, tied for the third most he’s had against any one team. Against the Bucs, he’s struggled to the tune of an 8.10 ERA with a .340 opponent batting average and a .979 OPS.

Rockies Hitters vs. Jones

Pirates Hitters vs. Gomber

Ke’Bryan Hayes: 1 for 6, one double
Michael A. Taylor: 0 for 6, three strikeouts
Bryan Reynolds: 0 for 4, two walks, two strikeouts
Andrew McCutchen: 2 for 3, one double, one home run, two RBIs
Edward Olivares: 2 for 3, one strikeout
Connor Joe: 2 for 2, one double, one RBI

Tidbits

Prior to Oneil Cruz’s two-run homer in the ninth on Friday, the Pirates had gone 22 consecutive innings without scoring a run.
Cruz’s homer against left-hander Jalen Beeks was his fourth against a southpaw in his career. He has 19 home runs against righties.
Most of the damage the Pirates have done against Gomber came last April, when the Pirates scored nine runs against the southpaw in two innings.