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Pirates Preview: Can Bucs Finally Win Series in May?

Published

11 months ago

May 24, 2023

The Pittsburgh Pirates (25-23) failed to take the series in game two against the Texas Rangers (30-18) Tuesday night, in a 6-1 loss, Despite Rich Hill striking out a season-high nine batters.

The Pirates were in the game up until the sixth inning, where Hill ran into some trouble and made the Pirates’ deficit even larger after giving up a two-run single to Josh Jung, making it 4-1 at the time.

Jose Hernandez then came in and allowed another run by committing the Pirates’ second balk of the evening. On top of all of that, the Pirates managed just four runners in scoring position and went 0-4.

First pitch at PNC Park is scheduled for 12:35 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

Partly cloudy skies are to be expected at first pitch, with temperatures right at 78 degrees. There will be a slight wind ranging from 6-8 mph throughout the contest and blow southeast.

The Pirates will send out RHP Johan Oviedo (3-3, 4.69 ERA)

Oveido was brilliant in his last start on May 19 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The young righty went six full innings with just two hits given up, one earned run, three walks, and seven strikeouts.

Out of 33 total swings against Oviedo, 14 balls were put in play and averaged around 90 mph in exit velocity.

Oviedo’s slider was again his dominant pitch, and he induced a lot of soft contact with it with an average exit velocity of 87 mph and got 11 called strikes.

Oviedo has never faced the Rangers.

The Rangers will send out RHP Martin Perez (5-1, 4.01 ERA)

In two out of his last three starts, Perez has had a rough go of things. On May 12 against the Oakland Athletics, and May 7 against the LA Angels, he combined to give up 11 earned runs in 8.2 innings pitched.

In his last start against the Colorado Rockies, Perez pitched a much better outing at home. In seven innings, Perez allowed seven hits, two earned runs, no walks, and seven strikeouts.

Perez offers mainly a three-pitch mix with a sinker (38.7%), changeup (29.8%), and a cutter (24.7%). In addition, Perez has also thrown a four-seam (5.1%) and a slider (1.6%) sporadically.

Perez has faced the Pirates twice (two starts) and holds a 1-1 record with an ERA of 4.91 in 11 innings pitched.

Rangers Hitters

Brad Miller: 1-3 with a homer and a strikeout against Oviedo

Pirates Hitters

Andrew McCutchen: 6-17 with three doubles, one walk, and three strikeouts against Perez.

Tidbits

Hill is the 12th different pitcher since 1901 to record 9+ strikeouts in a single outing at 43 or older. The last player to do it was Randy Johnson on May 11, 2009, at the age of 45, where he struck out nine.
Ji-Hwan Bae has now been caught stealing five times, which is tied for the lead in all of MLB.
In addition, Ke’Bryan Hayes is tied with Bae with five as well.