Pirates

Pirates Preview: When it Rains it Pours, Losing Streak Reaches Double Digits

Published

10 months ago

June 23, 2023

The Pittsburgh Pirates (34-40) losing streak has now extended to ten games in a row after their bullpen blew a late lead Thursday night against the Miami Marlins (43-33).

The Pirates were leading 4-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning after a pair of home runs from Henry Davis and Ke’Bryan Hayes.

Dauri Moreta then came in to hold the lead and allowed a leadoff double, a walk, and a single to load the bases. Carmen Mlodzinski came into a tough situation.

A single and a three-run homer for the Marlins gave them an insurmountable 6-4 lead, leading the Pirates to their tenth straight loss.

First pitch at loanDepot Park is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. You can watch all of the action on Apple TV+

Weather

loanDepot Park is a dome, so no worries about the weather for a few days.

The Pirates will send out RHP Luis Ortiz (1-3, 4.30 ERA)

Ortiz showed something in his last start on June 18 that we have yet to see at the major league level for him.

Ortiz started to throw a changeup quite a bit against the Milwaukee Brewers, and it looked ultra-effective against them. Ortiz used his changeup 20% of the time, received four whiffs, and allowed an average exit velocity of 83.6 mph.

It seems as though teams have figured out the slider/sinker combination the Pirates have used for almost every pitcher, and Ortiz may have found the cure by adding a changeup.

Ortiz has never faced the Marlins in his 53.2 innings pitched in the majors.

The Marlins will send out LHP Jesús Luzardo (6-5, 4.09 ERA)

In two out of his last three starts, Luzardo has gone at least six innings and gave up no more than two earned runs in either start.

In his last start, Luzardo pitched six innings while giving up five hits, two earned runs, one walk, and struck out five Washington Nationals in a winning effort.

Luzardo offers a four-pitch mix with a four-seam (43.8%), slider (29.8%), changeup (20%), and sinker (6.1%). In addition, Luzardo has thrown a cutter just three times this season.

Luzardo’s slider and changeup have been his bread and butter when he needs a swing and miss. Luzardo’s slider has a 48.7% whiff rate, and his changeup has a 39.6% whiff rate.

Luzardo has never faced the Pirates in his 350.1 innings pitched in the majors.

Marlins Hitters vs. Ortiz

No current Marlin has faced Ortiz

Pirates Hitters vs. Luzardo

Andrew McCutchen: 0-3 with one walk and one strikeout

Tidbits

Henry Davis belted his first home run in the major leagues off of LHP Andrew Nardi. Davis’ homer came off of a 1-1 pitch that was a slider left in the middle of the plate.
In addition, Davis’ homer went 407 feet with an exit velocity of 100.5 mph
Dauri Moreta has now given up eight earned runs in three straight appearances (1.1 innings pitched).