6-18-24 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X
With a chance to earn a series win, the Bucs bats will have to face-off against a former Pirates draft pick in Nick Lodolo.
Entering today’s game, the southpaw has a 7-2 record, 2.93 ERA, 1.06 WHIP with 62 Ks to 15 walks. He’s won each of his last 4 starts posting a 2.31 ERA in that stretch, and has gone 5+ innings in each of his outings this year.
The 41st overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, Lodolo declined the offer to sign with Pittsburgh out of high school, opting to head to college and try improving his stock for the next time around – and he was successful as the Reds took him 7th overall in the 2019 draft.
Lodolo has faced off twice against the team he spurned 8 years ago, posting a 1-1 record with a 3.97 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 11.1 innings.
The big issue with Lodolo over the years is staying on the field. He missed most of 2023 due to a stress reaction in his left tibia and lost two months in 2022 with a reported back strain. But when he’s healthy, he is devastating.
Lodolo works mainly off his 4-seam fastball, which sits 94-95, and adds in his secondary offerings in a low-80s curve and a high-80s changeup. And all three are plus-pitches, with hitters batting <.215 against all three of them thus far this season.
He has gotten less effective as the season has progressed as his monthly xFIP has jumped from 2.88 in March/April to 3.79 in May to 4.47 in his three June starts.
Lodolo is one of the toughest opponents the Pirates have faced this season but they have risen to the challenge in the past against difficult starters and will strive to do so again tonight.
He works off the fastball and we have been most successful against that pitch and against southpaws. Bryan Reynolds, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Connor Joe in particular should look to attack as they all are hitting the heater at a .300+ clip.
Look to get Lodolo’s pitch count up and attack him early. He has a 4.03 ERA first time through the lineup but, if he is able to settle down, he has a 1.21 ERA second time around.
Let’s Go Bucs!
Steel City Pirates 