8-20-24 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X
Pittsburgh wasn’t quite able to complete the comeback in game one but will try again tonight against the Rangers and starting pitcher, Cody Bradford.
Bradford enters play tonight with a perfect 4-0 record with a 3.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 33 strikeouts to just 6 walks in his first 36 innings of work with the Rangers this year.
He’s a prototypical southpaw – tall and lanky, low velocity (his fastball averages 90) and a big extension, ranking in the 93rd percentile.
It’s a small sample size but he’s provided ELITE results at home compared to well below-average away from Globe Life Field.
Looking at his arsenal, he has the aforementioned fastball typically located up in the zone with a low-80s changeup and high-70s curve running down and in against righties. He also throws the mid-80s slider but mainly deploys in against lefties.
The secondary options have been much more hittable than the main counterpart as the fastball has resulted in 20 of his 33 strikeouts and gets swings-and-misses nearly a quarter of the time. Compare this to the changeup and curve, which both actual and expected metrics indicate them as more optimal offerings to attack.
Hitters will want to attack early. Expect strikes and target the changeup/curve down and in to drive it up and out.
Let’s Go Bucs!
Steel City Pirates 