Starter Spotlight: Kirb Your Enthusiasm 

8-18-24 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X

Looking for a sweep in the other direction from their previous three series, the Pirates will face the final Mariners pitching boss in George Kirby.

Kirby is a control freak! Not in the OCD kind of way (I don’t think) but in the refusal to walk batters as his 2.9% walk rate this season is some a bit lower than his career rate of 3.1% – which ranks lowest among all qualified pitchers in the modern era.

Kirby brings a 3.42 ERA and 1.09 WHIP through his first 144.2 innings into tonight’s game, coming off his worst outing of the season where he allowed 11 runs (6 earned) and lasted just 3.2 innings.

Prior to that, he had a 2.17 ERA through 13 starts with 81 strikeouts to just 10 walks in that span.

He works mostly with his mid-90s 4-seam fastball up in the zone, a high-80s slider breaking down glove-side and a mid-90s sinker deployed primarily against righties on the outside part of the plate. He also adds in a mid-80s splitter and low-80s curve located down in the zone but the focus is on the main three.

The modern-day Greg Maddux isn’t going to over-power hitters with his stuff but stays on the edges and moves his pitches with precision to stay effective. 

He can make mistakes as he prioritizes avoiding walks over avoiding big hits, allowing nearly as many home runs (16) as walks (17) this year.

Additionally, as is the case with most of the Seattle starters, his production drops considerably when he pitches for the visiting team, with more than a run separating his ERA away compared to at home.

Be ready for strikes. Heat high, breaking stuff low. Righties will see the sinker while lefties will mostly get the 4-seam/slider mix.

Pick a pitch. Pick a spot. Attack.

Let’s Go Bucs!