Pirates

Pirates Preview: One More on the Road in 2023

Published

7 months ago

September 28, 2023

After jumping out to an early five-run lead, the Pittsburgh Pirates (74-84) ended up losing 7-6 to the Philadelphia Phillies (89-69) 7-6 on Wednesday night.

In the loss, Connor Joe recorded his second four-hit game of the season.

The Pirates and Phillies will get together for one more game on Thursday night in what will be Pittsburgh’s final road game of the season.

First pitch is set for 6:05 ET and the game will be aired on AT&T SportsNet.

Weather

There’s about a 40% chance of rain showers for first pitch with temperatures in the low 60s. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Luis Ortiz (4-5, 4.96 ERA)

Ortiz had a pretty solid stretch of appearances going for the Pirates since being recalled from Triple-A, but he’s struggled in each of his last two.

In his last two appearances — one as a starter one out of the bullpen — Ortiz has allowed seven earned runs in 8.1 innings pitched (7.56 ERA).

This will be the young right-hander’s first time facing the Phillies.

The Philadelphia Phillies Will Send Out RHP Zack Wheeler (13-6, 3.64 ERA)

Wheeler finds himself in the top 10 in several pitching categories this season including innings pitched (188.0), games started (31), strikeouts (207), and strikeout-to-walk-ratio (5.447).

The right-hander has been a bit up and down this month, but overall he’s pitched to a solid 3.90 ERA in five starts in September.

Wheeler has dominated the Pirates in his career. In six start’s he’s 4-0 with a miniscule 2.13 ERA and has held Pittsburgh to a .553 OPS against.

Phillies Hitters vs. Ortiz

Pirates Hitters vs. Wheeler

Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 5, two strikeouts
Alfonso Rivas: 0 for 4, one strikeout
Endy Rodriguez: 1 for 3
Miguel Andujar: 0 for 3, one strikeout
Henry Davis: 0 for 3, one strikeout
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 0 for 3, one strikeout
Connor Joe: 0 for 3, one strikeout
Jack Suwinski: 0 for 3, one strikeout

Tidbits

With a single in the first inning on Wednesday, Reynolds has reached base safely in 25 straight games. That’s the second-longest for a Pirates’ player since 2010, trailing Andrew McCutchen’s 26-game on-base streak in 2013.
Joe’s four-hit night was his first since collecting four hits against the Chicago White Sox on Apr. 7.
36 road wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season gives them their most away from PNC Park since going 38-43 away from PNC Park in 2018.