5-24-24 – By Gary Morgan – @garymo2007 on X
When your bullpen is struggling to hold even big leads, it’s probably not a perfect time to face the Atlanta Braves, but it wouldn’t be the first time a series that should have been a nightmare on paper and it turned out to be the medicine they needed. Bluntly, if this is indeed to be a competitive team, they shouldn’t enter a 3 game set against anyone and feel the outcome is predetermined.
I’m not saying that’s reality, I’m just saying IF you want to be considered competitive, a series like this is one you should welcome, not fear.
5-24
Braves – TBD – I think this could be Bryce Elder, but it’s just a guess
Pirates – Bailey Falter (L) – 2-2, 51 IP, 3.53 ERA, 29 Ks/13 walks, 0.98 WHIP
5-25
Braves – Reynaldo Lopez (R) – 2-1, 46.2 IP, 1.54 ERA,44 Ks/17 walks, 1.07 WHIP
Pirates – Mitch Keller (R) – 5-3, 61 IP, 3.84 ERA, 54 Ks/19 walks, 1.28 WHIP
5/26
Braves – Chris Sale (L) – 7-1, 56.2 IP, 2.22 ERA, 70 Ks/8 walks, 0.86 WHIP
Pirates – Martin Perez (L) 1-3, 54.1 IP, 4.80 ERA, 44 Ks/17 walks, 1.53 WHIP
Braves:
Marcell Ozuna has had an incredible start to the season. Average at .320, OPS at 1.036, so maybe “hot” doesn’t apply, it’s kinda been all night. His last 15, .353/.444/.706, I mean, he’s been unstoppable.
Pirates:
Bryan Reynolds has snapped into form. In his past 15 contests he’s hitting .281/.324/.484 with 3 homers and 10 RBI. It should hardly surprise anyone that Reynolds has found his way to being his typical self, it’s kinda what he does.
Braves:
I almost hate to speak to it because it might change in this series, but Ronald Acuna Jr. This has not been a typical season for the superstar thus far. He’s 182 ABs in, and only has 3 homeruns with a .690 OPS and a .242 average. He can still hurt you, his OBP is .349 and he has 15 stolen bases, but it’s not him. In his past 15 games he’s hitting .172/.284/.276, that’s really not him. Law of averages with a guy like this though, he could bounce back at anytime, and you just have to hope it’s not against you.
Pirates:
Aroldis Chapman, I mean you probably don’t need more than the eye test here, but in his past 15 games, 0-3, 6.35 ERA, 11.1 Innings out of those 15 outings, 17 walks vs 21 Ks and a 2.38 WHIP. That’s not just bad, it’s actually incredible.
Key Injuries
Yasmani Grandal slightly pulled his groin but was able to enter the game in the 9th after Joey Bart was tossed from the game. I’m not sure that means he’s ok or he was ok enough to squat so long as he didn’t have to run.
Ke’Bryan Hayes is nearing a return, seen doing sprints yesterday at PNC, he’s passed the threshold for his IL stint and it could be any day.
Austin Riley could return just about any day here for the Braves. He’s just started his swing program, and hasn’t played since May 12 when he exited the game with a tight left intercostal muscle. Yeah, I don’t know what that is either, but it sounds hurty.
What To Watch
The Pirates squandered two great starts from Jared Jones and Paul Skenes and enter this series with neither of them to look to for help. The Braves are always a challenge and the Clemente wall screams being a feature that could help get Matt Olsen back on track. The Pirates tossing two lefties in this series might help tramp down the Braves left handed power, but they have plenty to hurt them with from the right side.
They’ll need some very good performance from their pitching staff or this light hitting version of the Braves gets a hand up being themselves.
Steel City Pirates 