Pirates

Pirates Preview: Roansy Contreras Looking for Rebound Start

Published

1 year ago

April 15, 2023

The Pittsburgh Pirates (8-6) play in game three of four against the St. Louis Cardinals (6-8).

The Pirates got a brilliant start from Johan Oviedo Friday night as he went seven innings with just one earned run, but the offense laid an egg and fell 3-0 to the Red Birds.

The Pirates managed eight hits but managed to go just 1-7 with runners in scoring position. The only shot the Pirates had of scoring came when Cannan Smith-Njigba was thrown out at the plate in the top of the fourth inning.

First pitch at Busch Stadium is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. You can watch all of the action on AT&T Sportsnet, or listen to the game on the Pirates radio network, 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Expect another beautiful day in St. Louis Saturday afternoon. Skies will be partly cloudy with a temperature of 74 degrees. There will be a 12 mph wind blowing south.

The Pirates will send out RHP Roansy Contreras

Contreras struggled in his last start on April 10 against the Houston Astros.

Contreras lasted just 3.1 innings while giving up nine hits, seven earned runs, and four walks while striking out three. Only 44 strikes were thrown out of a total of 83, and opponents hit for an average of .316 off him.

Out of 34 four-seams pitched, Contreras allowed ten balls in play on 12 swings; the other two were foul balls. The one thing Contreras had going (even if a little), was his slider.

Out of nine whiffs total, eight came from his slider, and just four balls out of 16 swings were put into play.

Contreras has faced the Cardinals in four games (three starts) and holds a 1-0 record with an ERA of 5.02. Cardinals’ batters are slashing .254/.366/.509 against Contreras.

The Cardinals will send out LHP Steven Matz.

The Cardinals’ pitching staff has been extremely lackluster to start the season, and Matz is no exception.

In two starts, Matz holds an ERA of 8.18 and is 0-2. In his last start on April 10, Matz went 5.2 innings against the Colorado Rockies and gave up nine hits, six earned runs, two walks, and four strikeouts on 92 pitches (60 strikes).

Matz offers a four-pitch mix with a sinker (45.7% usage), changeup (28.5% usage), curveball (15.6% usage), and slider (10.2& usage).

Opponents are hitting at least .350 against every pitch Matz offers this season, and the highest average allowed so far has come from his changeup with a .500 average.

Matz has faced the Pirates nine times (seven starts) and has a record of 2-3 with an ERA of 5.50.

Interesting Batting Match Ups

St Louis Hitters

Paul Goldschmidt is 2-5 with two doubles against Contreras
Tyler O’Neil is 0-5 with two walks against Contreras

Pirates Hitters

Carlos Santana is 3-20 with one double and one homer against Matz
Andrew McCutchen is 5-16 with seven Ks against Matz

Tidbits

The Pirates have recorded two shutouts to begin the season, which places them tied for second in the National League with the Chicago Cubs
The Pirates bullpen entered Friday ranked third in the National League with a 3.51 ERA, which places them ninth in MLB overall.
The Pirates are 7-0 when leading after six innings so far this season.