Pirates

Pirates Preview: Daunting Task Facing Strider, Can Bats Surprise?

Published

9 months ago

August 7, 2023

The Pittsburgh Pirates (50-61) bested the Milwaukee Brewers (60-53) Sunday afternoon 4-1, after Johan Oviedo put on quite the show for a third straight start.

Oviedo has now gone three straight games with at least six innings pitched, and has picked up a win in all three of those starts, which is the first time in his career he’s achieved that.

Oviedo’s final line in Milwaukee read seven innings, two hits, no runs, three walks, and six strikeouts.

The Pirates’ offense showed up for a little bit with homers from Endy Rodriguez, Connor Joe, and a two-run, pinch-hit homer from Bryan Reynolds.

The Pirates now turn their attention to the Atlanta Braves (70-39) for a three-game home series First pitch at PNC Park is scheduled for 7:05 ET. You can watch all of the action on AT&T Sportsnet.

Weather

Thunderstorms are expected throughout the day in Pittsburgh.

The Pirates will send out RHP Osvaldo Bido (2-2, 5.18 ERA)

Bido struggled in his last outing on Aug. 2 against the Detroit Tigers. In three-plus innings pitched, Bido allowed three hits, four earned runs, one walk, and struck out three.

Bido struggled to fill the strike zone in his last start as well. Bido threw 59 balls and had just 36 of them for strikes.

Bido has never faced the Braves in his career.

The Braves will send out RHP Spencer Strider (12-3, 3.61 ERA)

Strider picked up his 12th win in his last start on Aug. 1 against the Los Angeles Angels. In 6.2 innings pitched, Strider allowed five hits, one earned run, two walks, nine strikeouts.

Although Strider is mainly a two-pitch pitcher (four-seam, slider), he’s been one of the most dominating pitchers in the majors since his call up in 2021.

The right-hander leads all of baseball with 208 strikeouts, 31 more than the next closest (Kevin Gausman – 177)

Strider has faced the Pirates once (one start) and holds an ERA of 0.00 in 5.2 innings pitched.

Braves Hitters vs. Bido

Pirates Hitters vs. Strider

Bryan Reynolds: 1-3 with one strikeout
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 0-3 with two strikeouts

Tidbits

Oviedo trails only Blake Snell of the San Diego Padres in starts this season in which he’s allowed one run or fewer with 11 such outings.
Alfonso Rivas has reached base safely in all four games since joining the Pirates and has posted an OPS of 1.126 in those four games.
Rodriguez recorded his first-career, three-hit game against the Brewers on Sunday.