Pirates

Pirates Preview: Can the Offense Continue Momentum?

Published

10 months ago

June 28, 2023

The Pittsburgh Pirates (36-42) snapped out of their offensive woes in a big way against the San Diego Padres (37-42) Tuesday night.

The Pirates’ offense strung together 16 hits during their 9-4 victory over the Padres, which included back-to-back homers by Carlos Santana and Jack Suwinski.

The Pirates were actually down 3-0 until they tied it back up in the bottom of the second after a Ji-Hwan Bae sac-fly, a Nick Gonzales triple, and an Andrew McCutchen RBI single.

Rich Hill pitched six strong innings while giving up four earned runs.

Game two between the Pirates and Padres will be at PNC Park, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. You can watch all of the action on AT&T Sportsnet, or listen to the game on 93.7 The Fan

Weather

Clear skies are expected with temperatures ranging from 74-77 degrees. There will be a slight wind between 7-8 mph, and will blow northwest.

The Pirates will send out RHP Mitch Keller (8-3, 3.45 ERA)

Keller was brilliant in his last start on June 22 against the Miami Marlins. In seven innings, Keller allowed five hits, one earned run, no walks, and struck out five.

That is the first time Keller hasn’t walked anyone since May 20 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Keller kept a balanced approach in his last start against Miami, predominantly using four pitches. Keller used his sinker (27%), cutter (23%), sweeper (22%), and his four-seam (20%).

Out of his 107 pitches, 21 balls were put into play with an average exit velocity of 85.3 mph, which is 3.1 mph lower than league average.

Keller has faced the Padres three times (three starts) and holds a 1-2 record with an ERA of 4.80 in 15 innings pitched.

The Padres will send out LHP Blake Snell (4-6, 3.22 ERA)

The 30-year-old Snell has been on a major roll in his last six starts. Combined, Snell has pitched in 36 innings and allowed just two earned runs on 17 hits, 13 walks, and struck out 56.

In addition, Snell has pitched 18 consecutive scoreless innings.

Snell offers a four-pitch mix with a four-seam (54.3%), changeup (16.8%), curveball (15.1%), and slider (13.9%). Snell’s four-seam averages 95.1 mph and will use almost strictly for right-handed hitters.

An interesting tidbit is out of the 244 changeups Snell has thrown in 2023, none of them have been used against lefties.

Snell has faced the Pirates twice (two starts) and holds a 0-1 record with an ERA of 14.29 in 5.2 innings pitched.

Padres Hitters vs. Keller

Nelson Cruz: 4-5 with a walk
Austin Nola: 3-6
Juan Soto: 3-6
Ha-Seong Kim: 0-6

Pirates Hitters vs. Snell

Carlos Santana: 0-10 with two strikeouts
Andrew McCutchen: 0-6 with four walks and one strikeout
Connor Joe: 1-8 with two walks and six strikeouts

Tidbits

Santana and Suwinski’s back-to-back home runs marked the seventh time this season the Pirates have done this. The Pirates are now tied with the Braves, Dodgers, and Rays for the most sets of back-to-back homers.
Nick Gonzales collected seven total bases on Tuesday night with a triple and a homer. Gonzales is the fifth different Pirates player since 1947 to record 7+ bases within their first four games.
In addition, Gonzales’ triple recorded his first major league hit. Henry Davis, too recorded an extra-base hit as his first major league hit.