Pirates Preview: Falter Set to Make Pirates Debut

The Pittsburgh Pirates (49-60) showed some fight in them, as they answered the Milwaukee Brewers (59-52) game one win, with an emphatic 8-4 win on Friday night.

It wasn’t quite as emphatic as the Brewers’ 14-1 win on Thursday night, but a win is a win in the Pirates’ eyes and they will take it.

Newly acquired Alfonso Rivas belted a three-run homer, Josh Palacios homered, Henry Davis homered, and Bryan Reynolds homered on Friday night.

Priester’s two-game winning streak halted, after going just four innings and giving up three runs on five hits and three walks. In addition, Priester struck out three and dropped his ERA to 8.69.

First pitch at American Family Field is scheduled for 7:10 ET. You can watch all of the action on AT&T Sportsnet.

Weather

American Family Field is a dome.

The Pirates will send out LHP Bailey Falter (0-7, 5.13 ERA)

Falter is making him Pirates debut, and is pitching for the first time at the major league level since May 15 against the San Francisco Giants.

As you can see, Falter is seeking his first win on the 2023 season. In addition, Falter hasn’t won a major league game since Sept. 30, 2022, against the Washington Nationals.

Falter’s line in that game was six innings pitched, no runs on three hits, two walks, and and six strikeouts. Falter won six games that year and held a 3.86 ERA.

Falter has yet to play the Brewers in his major league career.

The Brewers will send out RHP Corbin Burnes (9-6, 3.44 ERA)

Burnes faced the Pirates once this year (July 1), and things didn’t bode well for the Pirates. In seven full innings, Burnes allowed just one hit, two earned runs, one hit-by-pitch, two walks, and seven strikeouts.

Burnes used his cutter (55%) primarily in that contest, and shockingly, the Pirates had an average exit velocity of 95.4 mph on eight balls put into play.

In addition, Burnes offered a changeup (17%), curveball (17%), and a slider (10%). Burnes induced 12 swings and misses that night with his cutter leading the way with five.

Burnes has faced the Pirates nine times (five starts) and holds a 7-1 record with an ERA of 3.36 in 69.2 innings pitched.

Brewers Hitters vs. Falter

• Mark Canha: 2-5
• William Contreras: 2-5 with a homer and strikeout

Pirates Hitters vs. Burnes

• Bryan Reynolds: 5-21 with a double, two walks, and seven strikeouts
• Ke’Bryan Hayes: 0-10 with a walk and three strikeouts
• Alfonso Rivas: 4-9 with a double and three strikeouts

Links

Pittsburgh Pirates Recall Jackson from Triple-A, Add Falter to Taxi Squad

Demilio: Liover Peguero Providing Spark Pittsburgh Pirates Need

Perrotto: Time to Really Find Out About Henry Davis

Around The Network

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: These 5 NHL Arenas are Gone, But Can’t Be Forgotten

Steelers Now: Steelers Training Camp Takeaways: Washington Dazzles, Diontae Impresses

Pittsburgh Sports Now: Matt Goncalves Named Pitt’s Lone Preseason All-ACC Selection