The Pittsburgh Pirates’ miserable weekend ended with a 7-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, which capped off a series sweep.
Andrew Heaney was knocked around for seven runs in four innings, and the offense once again couldn’t muster much of anything.
Things aren’t about to get any easier for the Pirates (39-61), who start a three-game series with the MLB-best Detroit Tigers (60-40) on Monday night.
First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and 93.7 The Fan.
Weather
A beautiful night for baseball with partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the upper-70s. Winds NNW at 5-6 mph.
RHP Paul Skenes (4-8, 2.01 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates
The last time Skenes was on the mound was as the starting pitcher for the National League in the All-Star Game. The Pirates’ ace tossed a 1-2-3 first inning and struck out the first two batters he faced.
His last regular season start came against the Minnesota Twins last Friday, when he allowed two runs and struck out six in five innings.
Skenes hasn’t gotten a win since May 28 against the Arizona Diamondbacks despite posting a 1.77 ERA in eight starts since.
Skenes struck out nine batters and allowed two runs in six innings against the Tigers on June 19. He’s 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in a pair of starts against Detroit in his career.
RHP Jack Flaherty (5-9, 4.65 ERA) Will Start for the Tigers
Flaherty struck out seven batters and allowed two runs on four hits in five innings in his last start against the Seattle Mariners on July 13.
The veteran right-hander has a 4.03 ERA over his last four starts and has struck out 31 batters across 22.2 innings during that stretch.
Flaherty has really struggled on the road this season. In eight starts, he’s 2-4 with a 6.08 ERA. He has a 3.71 ERA in 11 starts at Comerica Park.
Flaherty has faced the Pirates 17 times and has a 10-1 record with a 2.75 ERA.
Tigers Hitters vs. Skenes
Riley Greene: 1 for 6, three strikeouts
Zach McKinstry: 0 for 5 three strikeouts
Spencer Torkelson: 0 for 5, three strikeouts
Colt Keith: 1 for 4, one walk, one strikeout
Wenceel Pérez: 0 for 4, two walks, two strikeouts
Gleyber Torres: 1 for 3, one double, two RBI, one strikeout
Matt Vierling: 1 for 3, one home run, one RBI, one strikeout
Pirates Hitters vs. Flaherty
Bryan Reynolds: 5 for 29, one double, one triple, one walk, eight strikeouts
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 4 for 12, one double, one RBI, three walks, two strikeouts
Oneil Cruz: 2 for 8, one home run, one RBI, one walk, five strikeouts
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 4 for 7, one double, one triple, one home run, one RBI
Andrew McCutchen: 3 for 6, one RBI, one walk, one strikeout
Jack Suwinski: 3 for 6, one home run, two RBI, two walks, one strikeout
Tommy Pham: 2 for 3, one home run, one RBI
Joey Bart: 1 for 3, one home run, three RBI, one strikeout
Tidbits
Andrew McCutchen tied Willie Stargell for 180th pace on the MLB all-time hit list with 2,232.
Andrew Heaney has a 10.65 ERA (28er/23.2ip) over his last six appearances. He’s allowed 15 home runs over his last 10 starts (46.1 innings), an average of 2.91 home runs per nine innings.
Through 100 games this season, the Pirates are 22 games under .500. They haven’t been this far under .500 since they finished the 2022 season at 62-100.
Links
Perrotto: Pirates Right Back From Where They Started From After Loseapalooza
Pirates Awful Series vs. White Sox Provides Grim Reality of Team’s Current State
Pirates Lifeless Again, Swept By AL-Worst White Sox
Around the Network
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: One Timers: Karlsson Trade Talk and Parallel; the Race for Sid
Steelers Now: Four Steelers Veterans Firmly on Roster Bubble Entering Training Camp
Pittsburgh Sports Now: Lyndon Cooper Viewed as a Top College Center by OL Trainer
SUBSCRIBE TO PBN+
For full-access to Pittsburgh Baseball Now, CLICK HERE. *** You also get full Penguins and Steelers coverage with your subscription!