Pirates

Pirates Preview: Can the Offense Break Through Against Tough Test in Gallen?

Published

11 months ago

May 19, 2023

The Pittsburgh Pirates (23-20) return home after splitting their two-game series with the Detroit Tigers. Your Pirates will go head to head with the Arizona Diamondbacks(25-19) for a three game series.

The Pirates’ bats came to life on Wednesday and exploded for eight runs on 14 hits against Detroit.

Combine that with six brilliant innings from Rich Hill, and you got yourself an 8-0 victory.

First pitch at PNC Park is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. You can watch all of the action on AT&T Sportsnet, or listen to the game on the Pirates radio station, 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Expect a mostly cloudy sky, with a solid temperature of 78 degrees at first pitch. There will be a slight nine mph wind throughout the game and blow southeast.

The Pirates will send out RHP Johan Oviedo (2-3, 5.14 ERA)

Oviedo pitched better in his last outing, than his previous three starts before May 12 against the Baltimore Orioles.

Oviedo found himself in some sticky situations throughout his last start, but unlike his previous starts, he was able to navigate through them and limit damage.

Oviedo’s final line against the Orioles read five innings pitched, four hits, one earned run, five walks, and three strikeouts.

Oviedo will need to limit the base runners and cut down on his walk rate. In his last two starts, Oviedo has allowed eight walks in ten innings pitched.

Oviedo has faced the Diamondbacks once (one start) and holds an 0-0 record with an ERA of 4.15 in 4.1 innings pitched.

The Diamondbacks will send out RHP Zac Gallen (6-1, 2.35 ERA)

Gallen has been a hard cookie to break over this season.

In his last two starts combined, Gallen has pitched 14.2 innings while allowing ten hits, three earned runs, three walks, and struck out 13.

Gallen’s last start on May 13 against the San Francisco Giants he nearly pitched eight full innings while allowing just two earned runs.

Gallen’s arsenal of pitches consists of a four-seam (43.5%), curveball (27.2%), changeup (15.2%), and a cutter (14.1%).

Gallen has given up his fair share of hard contact with an average exit velocity of 90.4 mph, with his curveball leading the way at an average of 91.6 mph.

Gallen has faced the Pirates twice (two starts) and holds a 1-1 record with an ERA of 1.38 in 13 innings pitched.

Interesting Batting Match Ups

Diamondbacks Hitters

Josh Rojas: 1-1 with two walks against Oviedo

Pirates Hitters

Jack Suwinski: 2-3 with two doubles against Gallen
Connor Joe: 1-9 with four Ks against Gallen
Tucupita Marcano: 0-4 with three Ks against Gallen

Tidbits

With their 8-0 victory on Wednesday, the Pirates recorded their sixth shutout victory. In 2022, the Pirates recorded six the entire season.
The Pirates pitching staff ranks sixth in all of MLB in ERA with a 3.66.
In terms of hitting and getting on base, the Pirates are eighth in the N.L. in OBP with a .322.