Pirates

Pirates Preview: Bucs on Heels of Diamondbacks at Start of Series

Published

3 months ago

July 26, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates earned a key series victory with a 5-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park on Wednesday afternoon.

Left-hander Martín Pérez blanked the Cardinals across six innings. Rowdy Tellez, who wasn’t in the original lineup, drove in a pair of runs — one of which came on a solo homer that bounced into the Allegheny River.

After enjoying a day off on Thursday, the Pirates (52-50) start another important series against a team also battling for a wild card spot in the defending National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks (53-50) at Chase Field.

First pitch is set for 9:40 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

It’s a good thing Chase Field is protected by a roof. Temperatures in Phoenix are expected to reach 109 degrees on Friday.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Luis Ortiz (5-2, 2.57 ERA)

Ortiz has been pitching brilliantly for the Pirates since sliding back into the rotation due to injuries to a couple of starting pitchers.

In four starts this season, including each of his last three appearances, Ortiz is 2-0 with a miniscule 0.73 ERA. He’s allowed two runs across 24.2 innings pitched and has limited opponents to a ridiculous .174/.202/.209 slash.

A big reason that Ortiz has had a turnaround season in Pittsburgh is thanks in part to his improved control. After issuing 48 walks in 86.2 innings last season, the right-hander has only walked 21 in 73.2 innings — including three as a starting pitcher — in 2024.

Ortiz’s start on Friday will be his first appearance against Arizona.

The Arizona Diamondbacks Will Send Out RHP Zac Gallen (7-5, 3.64 ERA)

The Pirates face a tough task in Gallen, a Cy Young finalist from a year ago. However, he enters Friday struggling of late.

In four starts in July, Gallen has a 6.50 ERA with 15 runs (13 earned) against him in 18 innings. Over that stretch, he’s walked 11 against 13 strikeouts. Though he threw five-scoreless innings against the Cubs in his last start, Gallen walked six batters.

Prior to his recent rough patch, Gallen posted a 2.83 ERA across his first 12 starts on the year. The right-hander missed most of June with a right hamstring strain.

Gallen has made four starts against the Pirates and is an even 2-2. He’s posted a 3.04 ERA.

Diamondbacks Hitters vs. Ortiz

Randal Grichuk: 1 for 3, one RBI
Eugenio Suárez: 0 for 2, one walk, one strikeout

Pirates Hitters vs. Gallen

Bryan Reynolds: 1 for 10, one RBI, two walks, three strikeouts
Jack Suwinski: 4 for 9, three doubles, two RBIs, three strikeouts
Joey Bart: 2 for 9, four strikeouts
Connor Joe: 1 for 9, four strikeouts
Rowdy Tellez: 1 for 8, one walk, two strikeouts
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 2 for 5, one double, three RBIs, one walk, one strikeout
Michael A. Taylor: 0 for 4, one walk, two strikeouts
Jared Triolo: 1 for 3, one double, one strikeout
Nick Gonzales: 0 for 3, one strikeout
Andrew McCutchen: 2 for 2, one walk

Tidbits

On Wednesday, the Pirates became the first team in the modern era to have a five-plus run shutout despite issuing nine walks and being outhit.
Luis Ortiz’s 0.48 ERA since July 7 is the third-lowest in MLB behind Taj Bradley and Bryce Miller, both of whom have a 0.00 ERA.
Andrew McCutchen needs one more hit to tie Fred Clarke for 10th on the Pirates all-time list. McCutchen has 1,637 hits in a black and gold uniform.