Pirates

Pirates Preview: Taking Winning Streak to D.C.

Published

8 months ago

April 1, 2024

Hunter Stratton, Jason Delay, Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates (4-0) erased an early five-run deficit to defeat the Miami Marlins (0-4) in 10 innings on Easter Sunday to complete the four-game sweep to start the season.

Rowdy Tellez connected on his first home run with the Pirates to give them the lead in the seventh inning. After the Marlins tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, the Pirates scored twice in the extra frame and beat Miami 9-7.

Now the Pirates will bring their four-game winning streak to Washington D.C. for a three-game series with the Nationals beginning on Monday for the Nats’ home opener.

First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 ET and the game will be televised on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

There will be about a 40% chance of rain at the start of the game with temperatures in the upper-50s.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out LHP Marco Gonzales

It was a rough spring for Gonzales, who was knocked around in his five starts in the Grapefruit League. The left-hander was 0-1 with an 8.64 ERA while opponents hit .342 against him.

It will be Gonzales’ first time on the mound in a regular-season game since May 28 last year while with the Seattle Mariners. His opponent in that game? The Pirates.

Gonzales had surgery on his forearm last summer after making 10 starts.

He’s made one previous start against the Nationals in his career and allowed four runs on seven hits in 2.2 innings pitched.

The Washington Nationals Will Send Out LHP Mackenzie Gore

Gore made four starts for the Nationals during spring training and posted a 5.87 ERA. In 15.1 innings, he allowed 14 hits, walked six and struck out 19.

Last season, Gore went 7-10 with a 4.42 ERA across a career-high 27 starts. He posted high strikeout totals (151 in 136.1 innings) but also was plagued by the long ball with 27 homers allowed.

Gore dominated the Pirates in his one previous start against them in 2022. In that game, he threw seven-shutout innings and struck out nine batters.

Nationals Hitters vs. Gonzales

Joey Gallo: 6 for 20, one double, two home runs, seven RBIs, two walks, nine strikeouts
Jesse Winker: 1 for 3, two strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Gore

Connor Joe: 1 for 4, one RBI, one walk, one strikeout
Bryan Reynolds: 0 for 3, two strikeouts
Rowdy Tellez: 1 for 2, one walk, one strikeout

Tidbits

Sunday’s win was the 13th time in franchise history the Pirates came back from down five or more runs in the first inning to win the game.
Bryan Reynolds extended his active on-base streak to 32 games dating back to last season. It’s the longest streak by a Pirates’ player since Jason Kendall in 2004.
Hunter Stratton earned his first-career save after holding the Marlins scoreless in the bottom of the 10th inning on Sunday.