Pirates

Pirates Preview: Can Bailey Falter Slow Down Orioles?

Published

4 weeks ago

April 6, 2024

Oneil Cruz and Jared Triolo homered for the Pittsburgh Pirates (6-2) in their home opener on Friday, but the Bucs fell 5-2 to the Baltimore Orioles (5-2).

The Orioles saw the Pirates’ pair of homers and raised them one. Ryan O’Hearn, Gunnar Henderson and Cedric Mullins all hit solo home runs for Baltimore in the win.

Jared Jones allowed two of the three solo shots, but otherwise had another quality outing. The rookie right-hander worked six innings, struck out seven, generated 21 whiffs and didn’t walk a batter.

The Pirates will look to even the series on Saturday with left-hander Bailey Falter on the mound.

First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 ET. The game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

Partly sunny skies with temperatures around 50 degrees for gametime. Winds NW at 9 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out LHP Bailey Falter (0-0, 13.50 ERA)

Falter struggled out of the gate in his first start against the Miami Marlins on Easter. The left-hander allowed six runs on five hits in four innings pitched. Two of those five hits were homers.

Five of the six runs he allowed came in the first inning. Four were on one swing courtesy of Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s grand slam.

In his 2024 debut, Falter had more walks (three) than strikeouts (two).

Falter has one previous appearance against the Orioles, a lone scoreless inning of relief. He’s gone 1-6 with a 4.87 ERA in 10 appearances in interleague play.

The Baltimore Orioles Will Send Out RHP Tyler Wells (0-1, 4.50 ERA)

Wells’ first outing of his 2024 campaign was a quality start. Facing the Los Angeles Angels, Wells allowed three runs in six innings pitched. He didn’t walk a batter and punched out seven.

After being used out of the bullpen in his rookie season, Wells shifted to the rotation starting in 2022. Since the conversion, the right-hander is 14-14 with a 3.94 ERA.

Wells dominated the Pirates in his one previous start against them last May. In that game, he allowed one hit in and struck out eight batters in seven shutout innings.

Orioles Hitters vs. Falter

James McCann: 0 for 2, one strikeout

Pirates Hitters vs. Wells

Michael A. Taylor: 1 for 7, one walk
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 0 for 3, one strikeout
Connor Joe: 0 for 3, two strikeouts
Edward Olivares: 0 for 3
Bryan Reynolds: 0 for 3

Tidbits

Jared Jones currently leads baseball in stuff+ (145).
Jones became the sixth Pirates’ pitcher in the Modern Era with seven or more strikeouts in each of their first two starts.
Bailey Falter’s 12 home runs allowed since making his Pirates’ debut on Aug. 5 of last season are the seventh-most in the National League amongst pitchers with at least 40 innings pitched. His 2.44 homers per nine innings is the third-worst mark in baseball.