Pirates

Pirates Preview: Huge Home Series Against Brew Crew

Published

10 months ago

June 30, 2023

The Pittsburgh Pirates (38-42) pulled off the sweep against the San Diego Padres on a smokey Thursday afternoon after coming back from down 4-0 at one point.

Henry Davis and company continued to battle after a shaky start from Luis Ortiz and took the lead for good in the seventh inning after a clutch RBI single from Davis, giving the Pirates a 5-4 lead.

The Pirates scored a total of three runs in that seventh inning.

David Bednar pitched for the first time in five days and earned a four-out save to secure the Pirates’ third win in a row.

The Pirates now turn their attentions to N.L. Central foe, the Milwaukee Brewers (42-38), for a three-game weekend set.

Game one between the Pirates and Brewers will be at PNC Park, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. You can watch all of the action on Apple TV+, or listen to the game on 93.7 The Fan

Weather

The air quality alert should be over by midnight Friday morning, but right around first pitch should be scattered thunderstorms. The rain is expected to be done around 10 p.m., so look out for some delays potentially.

The Pirates will send out RHP Osvaldo Bido (0-1, 3.45 ERA)

The 27-year-old Bido pitched a fairly good game on June 24 against the Miami Marlins. Bido managed to go 5.2 innings while giving up nine hits, two earned runs, no walks, and five strikeouts.

Bido primarily stuck with a three-pitch mix in his last start with a four-seam (36%), slider (30%), and sinker (24%). Bido’s four-seam averaged 96.8 mph and got a 41% CSW%.

Out of the 21 total balls up into play, Bido allowed an average exit velocity of 90 mph, with his fastball allowing the hardest contact at 93.1 mph.

Bido has never faced the Brewers.

The Brewers will send out RHP Freddy Peralta (5-7, 4.65 ERA)

Peralta has been average or slightly above average in his five starts in June. For the month, Peralta has pitched 27 innings while allowing 21 hits, 14 earned runs, ten walks, and struck out 31.

In his last start on June 24, Peralta faced the Cleveland Guardians and went five innings while giving up four hits, three earned runs, three walks, and struck out five.

In addition, June 24 was the first start in June that Peralta didn’t allow a homer. In two out of his five starts (June 1 and June 11), he gave up two homers.

Peralta offers a four-pitch mix with a four-seam (53.8%), slider (20.8%), curveball (13.9%), and a changeup (11.4%). Peralta’s four-seam averages 94.4 mph, and opponents hit .256 against it.

Peralta has faced the Pirates 18 times (nine starts) and holds a 2-1 record with an ERA of 2.86 in 63 innings pitched.

Padres Hitters vs. Bido

No current Brewers have faced Bido

Pirates Hitters vs. Peralta

Bryan Reynolds: 10-22 with a double, triple, homer, four walks, and seven strikeouts
Andrew McCutchen: 4-6 with two doubles
Tucupita Marcano: 2-5 with a triple
Rodolfo Castro: 0-6 with a walk and four strikeouts
Jack Suwinski: 0-5

Tidbits

The Pirates improved their record to 15-30 when their opponent scored first. In addition, The Pirates won just their third game in 37 attempts when trailing after six innings.
In another form of crazy stats, the Pirates outhit the Padres 10-7 on Thursday and improved their record to 28-2 when outhitting opponents.
The Pirates have now earned their fifth series sweep on the season after Thursday’s victory. The last time the Pirates had a sweep this season was June 2-4 against the St. Louis Cardinals