Pirates

Pirates Preview: Rich Hill & Crew Searching For a Split Series

Published

3 weeks ago

May 17, 2023

The Pittsburgh Pirates (22-20) were shut out in their last outing against the Detroit Tigers (19-21) 4-0 on Tuesday.

Luis Ortiz struggled mightily in his second start of the season against the Tigers and fell to 0-2 and lasted only three innings while giving up three earned runs.

The Pirates managed just five total hits against the Tigers, and when there were runners in scoring position, Pittsburgh went 0-5 in those opportunities.

First pitch at Comerica Park is scheduled for 1:10 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

It will be a little chilly around first pitch Wednesday afternoon, with temperatures around 62 degrees. The skies should be clear and sunny with a ten mph wind blowing northwest.

The Pirates will send out LHP Rich Hill (3-3, 4.35 ERA)

Hill was cruising in his last start against the Colorado Rockies on May 10, until the fourth inning came around.

With two outs in the inning, Hill gave up an RBI double, had a fielding error, an RBI single, and then another RBI single. You could visibly see Hill enraged when Shelton took him out of the game, so perhaps this is a redemption game for Hill.

Hill, like most of these Pirates, has not had a good month of May.

As it stands right now, Hill is carrying a 5.00 ERA and is allowing an opposing average of .316. History tells us that these numbers will go down.

Hill has faced the Tigers 19 times (six starts) and holds a record of 4-0 with an ERA of 4.19 in 43 innings pitched.

The Tigers will trot out LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (4-2, 1.57 ERA).

Rodriguez has been electric for the Tigers this season.

In his last 18.2 innings pitched, Rodriguez hasn’t allowed a run. The last time Rodriguez allowed a run was on April 29 against the Baltimore Orioles in the second inning.

In his last two starts, Rodriguez has pitched a combined 15 shutout innings while allowing six hits, three walks, and striking out 17.

Rodriguez technically throws five pitches but will stick with his four-seam (39.5%), cutter (25.9%), changeup (18.1%), and sinker (12.7%). Rodriguez has also thrown an occasional slider (3.8%).

Rodriguez has faced the Pirates once (one start) and holds an 0-0 record with an ERA of 3.38 in 5.1 innings pitched.

Interesting Batting Match Ups

Tigers Hitters

Miguel Cabrera: 8-19 with two doubles, a homer, and eight strikeouts against Hill
Jonathan Schoop: 1-17 with seven strikeouts against Hill

Pirates Hitters

Carlos Santana: 5-11 agasint Rodriguez
Andrew McCutchen: 3-10 with a homer, two walks, and six strikeouts against Rodriguez
Miguel Andujar: 1-12 with a homer against Rodriguez

Tidbits

With their shutout loss to the Tigers, the Pirates have now scored just 20 runs in the month of May with 13 games played.
Yohan Ramirez has now gone 8.1 straight innings without giving up an earned run. In addition, Ramirez has held opponents to an average of .190 in May.
Bryan Reynolds has not homered since April 7, which makes it 32 straight games without a homer. In that time, Reynolds has hit 12 doubles.