Pirates

Pirates Preview: Quinn Priester to Make 2024 Debut

Published

2 weeks ago

April 19, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates return to PNC Park looking to right the ship after getting swept by the New York Mets at Citi Field.

The Pirates concluded their seven-game road trip at 2-5 and have dropped six of their last eight games overall.

Now, the Pirates will begin a seven-game homestand starting with a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox beginning Friday night.

First pitch is set for 6:40 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

Some rain showers during the day should clear up by gametime. First pitch temperature will be around 62 degrees with winds blowing NW at 9 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Quinn Priester (2024 Debut)

Priester will make his first start of the season in place of the injured Marco Gonzales.

The 2019 first-rounder made three starts with Triple-A Indianapolis and went 1-1 with a 3.95 ERA. In 13.1 innings pitched, Priester recorded 20 strikeouts.

The right-hander received his first taste of the big leagues last season and went through the growing pains. In 10 appearances/eight starts, Priester finished 3-3 with a 7.71 ERA.

The Boston Red Sox Will Send Out RHP Brayan Bello (2-1, 3.92 ERA)

The Red Sox have plenty of faith in the 24-year-old Bello and rewarded him with a six-year contract extension last month.

Through his first four starts to begin the season, Bello has pitched well. In 20.2 innings pitched, he’s punched out 19 and walked five. Though he’s had success, he’s been a bit snake-bitten by the long ball with four homers allowed.

Bello made a career-high 28 starts last season with Boston and went 12-11 with a 4.24 ERA.

Though he’s never faced the Pirates, the right-hander has gone 3-3 with a 3.35 ERA in eight interleague appearances.

Red Sox Hitters vs. Priester

Pirates Hitters vs. Bello

Andrew McCutchen: 0 for 2, one RBI, one strikeout
Rowdy Tellez: 0 for 1, one RBI, one strikeout

Tidbits

Quinn Priester’s 20 strikeouts were tied for 10th in the International League despite throwing the third-fewest innings of anyone in the top 10. Pirates prospect Paul Skenes leads the league in strikeouts with 27 in 12.2 innings pitched.
After scoring nine runs, which tied a season high, in the series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday, the Pirates managed five total runs in their three-game series against the Mets.
In their last 12 games, Pirates’ starting pitchers have allowed 22 runs in 78.2 innings pitched (2.52 ERA).