Starter Spotlight: A Familiar Foe

6-16-24 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X

The Pirates have turned making terrible starters look like aces into an art form lately. Today, they face long-time Cardinals pitcher in Rockies starter, Dakota Hudson – who enters play today with a 2-8 record and 4.87 ERA in 68.1 innings this year. Additionally, Dakota Hudson is 2-1 with an ERA of 4.82, 15 strikeouts and 1 save in 11 appearances against the Pirates in his career. Can they break through against him?

Hudson is a ground ball specialist with a 53.5% rate thus far this season ranking 9th highest in MLB among qualified starting pitchers. He manages that rate with a low-90s sinker and mid-80s slider as his main two offerings – with a low-90s 4-seam, low-80s curve and low-80s changeup as his secondary pitches.

He doesn’t miss a ton of bats with a sub-par 18% whiff rate and straight-up AWFUL 11.9% strikeout rate. While his slider has a 31.5% whiff rate, both his sinker and 4-seam have been hit hard this year, both under 7% whiff rate and .390+ xwOBA.

Pirates batters should key-in on the heat as it is his most used options (49.4% combined) and take advantage of the fact that Hudson has been worse at home (7.57 ERA) than away (3.07) and also worse during day games (6.07) than at night (3.96). 

I just do not understand the lack of urgency to win rubber games. Don’t understand it at all.

6 straight losses in series finales. Haven’t won a road series since Chicago May 17-19th.

Not just today, but it seems to be a pretty steady trend.

— Christian✞ (@CWolfPGH) June 13, 2024

Pirates haven’t won a road series in a nearly a month and haven’t won a getaway-day game in even longer. Turn tides and raise it before heading home this week!

Let’s Go Bucs!