Pirates

Pirates Preview: Will the Bucs Win Their First Series in May?

Published

11 months ago

May 28, 2023

The Pittsburgh Pirates (26-25) failed to produce anything on Saturday evening against the Seattle Mariners (26-25).

As a result of poor offense, the Pirates managed just two hits and five base runners in total. Vince Velasquez looked hurt yet again, and the Pirates fell 5-0 to the Mariners.

Velasquez, per the Piraes, suffered from right-elbow discomfort and will be evaluated further and is currently being treated.

First pitch at T-Mobile Park is scheduled for 4:10 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

T-Mobile Park has a retractable roof, so no worries about the weather this series.

The Pirates will send out RHP Luis Ortiz (1-2, 4.02 ERA)

Ortiz, quite frankly, pitched the best game of his major league career in his last start on May 22 against the Texas Rangers.

The young righty dominated the best offense in the American League by pitching 7.2 innings with five hits, two earned runs, two walks, and four strikeouts.

Ortiz stayed away from his sinker (19%) a little more in that start with a four-seam (34%), and slider (29%) heavy combination.

Ortiz has never faced the Mariners.

The Mariners will send out LHP Marco Gonzales (4-1, 5.68 ERA)

Gonzales’ ERA is a little bloated after a terrible start on May 17 against the Boston Red Sox. Gonzales managed to go just 1.2 innings with eight hits, eight earned runs, two walks, and one strikeout.

Other than that bad start, Gonzales has had a decent month of May.

In his 18 other innings pitched, Gonzales has given up 16 hits, seven earned runs, five walks, and struck out ten. He has struggled with control, so maybe patience is the key for the Pirates on Sunday.

Gonzales offers a four-pitch mix with a four-seam (37.9%), changeup (29.8%), curveball (23.7%), and a cutter (8.6%).

Gonzales has faced the Pirates once (one start) and holds a record of 1-0, with an ERA of 0.00 in seven innings pitched.

Mariners Hitters

No current Mariners have faced Ortiz

Pirates Hitters

Chris Owings: 2-3 with a double against Gonzales
Connor Joe: 1-3 with a homer against Gonzales
Austin Hedges: 2-6 with a double against Gonzales

Tidbits

Ji Hwan Bae stole his 15th base on Saturday and became the first Pirate since Starling Marte to have 15+ stolen bases before June.
In addition, Bae is currently ranked second in the N.L. with his 15 stolen bases and is tied for fourth overall.
With Milwaukee losing on Saturday, the Pirates still are a half-a-game out of first place in the N.L. Central.