Pirates

Pirates Preview: What Will Response be After First Loss?

Published

4 weeks ago

April 4, 2024

For the first time this season, the Pittsburgh Pirates (5-1) found the loss column. They were defeated 5-3 by the Washington Nationals (2-3) in the middle game of a three-game set in D.C.

Mitch Keller had his second-consecutive shaky outing and the Pirates’ potent offense to begin the season managed only four hits. Two of those hits were off the bat of Jack Suwinski, who hit his first homer of the season.

The Pirates will look to bounce back from their loss and take the series on Thursday afternoon.

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

Weather

Partly cloudy skies and a high temperature of 54 degrees at first pitch. Winds WNW at 20 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out LHP Martín Pérez (0-0, 2.08 ERA)

Pérez wasn’t able to work very deep into his first outing with the Pirates on Friday, but the left-hander had a solid showing in his debut in the black and gold.

The left-hander scattered six hits in 4.1 innings and allowed one run against the Miami Marlins en route to the Pirates’ 7-2 victory.

Pérez has struggled in four previous meetings with the Nationals. For his career against Washington, Pérez is winless in four appearances (0-2) and has a 7.80 ERA.

The Washington Nationals Will Send Out RHP Josiah Gray (0-1, 15.75 ERA)

Gray, an All-Star last season for the first time in his career, was knocked around in his 2024 debut against the Reds in Cincinnati.

The Nats’ opening day started allowed seven earned runs on eight hits (two home runs) in four innings pitched at Great American Ballpark.

Last season, Gray went 8-13 with a 3.91 ERA in a career-high 30 starts.

The right-hander has faced the Pirates three times in his career and is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 17.1 innings pitched.

Nationals Hitters vs. Pérez

Jesse Winker: 1 for 6, two strikeouts
Eddie Rosario: 3 for 5, two RBIs, one strikeout
Victor Robles: 2 for 4, one double, one strikeout
Joey Gallo: 1 for 4, two strikeouts

Pirates Hitters vs. Gray

Bryan Reynolds: 4 for 8, one double, one home run, three RBIs, one walk, two strikeouts
Jack Suwinski: 2 for 6, one home run, one RBI, three strikeouts
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 0 for 6, one strikeout
Connor Joe: 0 for 6, one strikeout
Joey Bart: 0 for 4, one walk, one strikeout

Tidbits

Bryan Reynolds went 0 for 4 on Wednesday and saw his 33 game on-base streak come to a close. It had been the third-longest active streak in the majors.
Jack Suwinski’s homer agaisnt the Nats came off of left-hander Robert Garcia. It was the eighth homer in his career against a left-handed pitcher.
After drawing a walk in his first at-bat and hitting a single in his second, Andrew McCutchen had a streak of six-straight plate appearances in which he reached base successfully.