Pirates Preview: The Losing Streak Has No End in Sight

The Pirates received  a second straight night of good starting pitching, with Johan Oviedo going six strong innings and only giving up two earned runs.

The Pirates offense was stifled and keep their heads above water, and managed only five hits, with Connor Joe and Ke’Bryan Hayes hitting four out of the five hits.

As a result, the Cubs pulled out a 4-0 win over the Pirates.

First pitch at PNC Park is scheduled for 12:35 p.m. You can watch all of the action on AT&T Sportsnet or listen to the game on the Pirates radio station, 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Temperatures are supposed to be around 75 degrees when the Pirates and Cubs get underway. Expect the skies to be partly cloudy, with an 8-11 mph wind blowing east throughout the game.

The Pirates will send out LHP Rich Hill (6-6, 4.31 ERA)

Hill last pitched on June 16 against the Milwaukee Brewers and suffered his sixth loss of the season. Hill managed to go five innings and gave up three hits, four runs (three earned), six walks, and struck out five.

Hill is going to need to harness his control if the Pirates want to avoid their third straight sweep, granted, the offense has been atrocious.

Hill has yet to face the Cubs this season. The last time Hill faced the Cubs was on July 1, 2022, where he pitched 4.2 innings and gave up three hits, three earned runs, four walks, and struck out three.

Hill has faced the Cubs five times (four starts) and holds a 1-1 record with an ERA of 2.49 in 25.1 innings

The Cubs will send out RHP Kyle Hendricks (2-2, 2.86 ERA)

Hendricks has pitched extremely well in his last three starts with 19 innings pitched, 11 hits, five earned runs, one walk, and struck out eight.

In his last start on June 16, Hendricks pitched five innings against the Baltimore Orioles and gave up five hits, two earned runs, no walks, and stuck out one.

Hendricks offers a four-pitch mix with a changeup (35.4%), sinker (35.4%), four-seam (23.2%), and an occasional curveball (6.1%).

Hendricks has faced the Pirates 26 times (26 starts) and holds an 8-11 record with an ERA of 3.79 in 142.1 innings pitched.

Cubs Hitters vs. Hill

• Trey Mancini: 3-8 with a triple, two homers, and three walks
• Dansby Swanson: 1-8

Pirates Hitters vs. Hendricks

• Ke’Bryan Hayes: 6-12 with a double and two homers
• Andrew McCutchen: 9-38 with two doubles, one homer, and eight strikeouts

Tidbits

• The Pirates haven’t scored a run in 24 straight innings. The last time they scored a run was on Sunday against the Brewers in the third inning
• At PNC, Hendricks holds a 4-5 record with an ERA of 3.72
• McCutchen is currently ranked eighth in all of MLB in total walks with 43. In addition, McCutchen is ranked sixth in the National League

Links

‘He’s Born for This’: Jared Jones Has Matured Exponentially (+)

Perrotto: How Previous Pittsburgh Pirates’ 1-1s Fared in Their Debuts

Pittsburgh Pirates Officially Select Davis’ Contract, DFA Villalobos, Option Mathias

Davis’ Spark Can’t Ignite Pittsburgh Pirates Fire as Hitting Woes Continue (+)

Around The Network

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Sizing Up the NHL Trade Board and Potential Penguins Fits

Steelers Now: PFF Thinks Steelers Have a Top-5 Defensive Line

Pittsburgh Sports Now: 2024 4-Star DE Elias Rudolph Sets Decision Date