Pirates

Pirates Preview: Oviedo Faces Tough Test With the Dodgers in Town

Published

12 months ago

April 25, 2023

The Pittsburgh Pirates (16-7) start a three-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers (12-11) at PNC Park.

The Pirates are fresh off of a four-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds after their 2-0 victory Sunday afternoon, which pushed the Pirates’ win streak to seven.

Vince Velasquez pitched a gem of a game, going seven full innings and recording a season-high ten strikeouts.

The last time the Pirates faced the Dodgers was May 30 through June 1, and the Pirates swept them in a three-game set in Los Angeles.

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

Weather

It will be a chilly and cloudy day in Pittsburgh. Temperatures will range from 52-56 degrees, and there will be a 4-5 mph wind blowing west/southwest throughout most of the game.

The Pirates will send out RHP Johan Oviedo (2-1, 2.22 ERA)

Oviedo has burst onto the scene in Pittsburgh after a rough first start to begin the year.

In his last three starts, Oviedo has gone six innings or more, giving up two earned runs combined, striking out 21, and walking four in 19.2 combined innings pitched.

Oviedo’s last start on April 19 against the Colorado Rockies was a brilliant performance.

The young righty used his slider the majority of the time against the Rockies, and as a result, he induced ten whiffs on 23 swings and allowed an average EV of 84.6 mph on eight sliders put in play.

Oviedo has faced the Dodgers once out of the bullpen and holds a record of 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA in 1.1 innings pitched.

The Dodgers will send out RHP Noah Syndergaard (0-3, 4.91 ERA).

Syndergaard started his season off really badly on April 8 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, going four innings and giving up six earned runs.

Other than that start, he’s put forth a very good effort despite his ERA or record.

In his two other starts, he combined to go 12 innings pitched (six each), gave up five earned runs, walked four, and struck out 12, but got the loss in each of those games.

Syndergaard offers mainly four different pitches with a sinker (31%), changeup (28.8%), cutter (23.1%), and a four-seam (15.8%). He has also thrown a few curveballs (four occasions).

If the Pirates want a shot at Syndergaard, they are going to have to sit on his cutter. Although batters are hitting .294 off of it, the xBA is at .355, must have some L.A. luck.

Syndergaard has faced the Pirates five times (five starts) and holds a record of 2-2 with an ERA of 2.73.

Interesting Batting Match Ups

Dodgers Hitters

Jason Heyward: 1-6 against Oviedo

Pirates Hitters

Carlos Santana: 4-11 with a double and two walks against Syndergaard
Andrew McCutchen: 2-11 with two doubles and five Ks

Tidbits

The Pirates are now in sole possession of first place in the National League for stolen bases with 25. They are tied with the Baltimore Orioles for second place in all of MLB and are three behind the Cleveland Guardians.
With Milwaukee losing to the Detroit Tigers Monday Night, the Pirates are now a full game ahead of the Brewers in the N.L. Central standings.
Coming into Tuesday, the Pirates are ranked sixth in the N.L. in terms of on-base percentage with .329. The Pirates in all of MLB are tied for tenth with the Red Sox and Astros.