Pirates

Pirates Preview: Bucs, Dodgers Meet in Battle of Tough Right-Handers

Published

1 month ago

August 9, 2024

Pittsburgh Pirates' Mitch Keller delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

For the second time in as many days, the Pittsburgh Pirates blew a late lead and fell to the San Diego Padres. With a 7-6 loss on Thursday, the Pirates were swept by San Diego and have lost four games in a row.

The Pirates had a one-run lead in the ninth inning but the Padres scored three times in the top of the ninth off of David Bednar. Rowdy Tellez got a run back in the bottom of the inning but the Pirates were unable to do any further damage.

The Pirates (56-58) will look to put a rough homestand behind them when they head to Los Angeles for a weekend series against the Dodgers (66-49) on Friday night.

First pitch is set for 10:10 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

Clear skies with temperatures in the 70s with winds SW at 6-7 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Mitch Keller (10-5, 3.20 ERA)

Keller will be fresh in his start against the Dodgers. His last start against the Diamondbacks at PNC Park was cut short after four-scoreless innings due to a lengthy rain delay.

Dating back to July 8, Keller has a 2.17 ERA and has limited opponents to a .194 batting average and a .580 OPS across five starts.

Since throwing a complete game against the Angels on May 6, Mitch Keller’s 2.34 ERA is the second-lowest in baseball behind teammate Paul Skenes (1.99).

Keller has four career starts against the Dodgers and is 2-2 with a 5.79 ERA.

The Los Angeles Dodgers Will Send Out RHP Jack Flaherty (8-5, 2.80 ERA)

The Dodgers acquired Flaherty from the Tigers at the trade deadline and the right-hander made his team debut against the A’s on Saturday. Flaherty tossed six-shutout innings and struck out seven.

The 28-year-old has had a bounce back season after signing with the Tigers in the winter. Flaherty is averaging a whopping 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings while opponents have hit .211 against him.

Flaherty most often throws a four-seam fastball with a slider and curveball as his main secondary pitches. He also has a changeup and sinker.

Flaherty has plenty of experience and success against the Pirates from his time with the Cardinals. In 16 previous meetings, he has a 9-1 record and a 2.52 ERA against Pittsburgh.

Dodgers Hitters vs. Keller

Jason Heyward: 5 for 18, two doubles, one home run, two RBIs, two strikeouts
Freddie Freeman: 6 for 12, two RBIs, two walks, one strikeout
Miguel Rojas: 2 for 8, one double, one RBI, two strikeouts
Will Smith: 1 for 6, two strikeouts
Shohei Ohtani: 1 for 5, one home run, one RBI, one walk, one strikeout
Gavin Lux: 1 for 3, one walk
Amed Rosario: 1 for 3, one RBI, one walk
Teoscar Hernández: 0 for 3, one strikeout

Pirates Hitters vs. Flaherty

Bryan Reynolds: 4 for 26, one double, one triple, one walk, seven strikeouts
Yasmani Grandal: 2 for 15, two home runs, four RBIs, two walks, one strikeout
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 3 for 9, one double, one RBI, three walks, two strikeouts
Andrew McCutchen: 3 for 6, one RBI, one walk, one strikeout
Rowdy Tellez: 3 for 5, one RBI, four walks
Oneil Cruz: 1 for 5, one walk, three strikeouts
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 2 for 4, one triple, one home run, one RBI
Bryan De La Cruz: 1 for 3, one walk

Tidbits

David Bednar had converted 19-straight saves before blowing his last two chances. It was the fourth-longest active streak prior to being broken.
Ke’Bryan Hayes has seven hits through five games in the month of August. He’s also batting .308 in 10 games since July 27.
Prior to getting swept by the Padres, the Pirates had not been swept in a series since Apr. 29-May 1 against the A’s in Oakland.