4-9-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X
Heading into a rubber match with the Cardinals, the Bucs send out Mitch Keller to face Erick Fedde, who has had two starts – one great and one really awful – as he enters play today with a 7.00 ERA through his first 9 innings pitched thus far.
He stifled Bucs bats last time around, holding the Pirates to just 1 run off 4 hits and 1 walk over 6 innings while striking out 3.
This was part of his comeback season last year – his first MLB campaign following his KBO MVP win in 2023 – posting a combined 3.30 ERA and 5.6 bWAR between the White Sox and Cardinals.
I previewed it previously but Fedde offers a pitch mix comprised of a cutter and sinker in the low-90s with a low-80s sweeper and high-80s changeup with all his options having induced break of above average “rise” for opposing hitters.
He works the cutter as his main pitch against lefties down and away, utilizing the sinker/sweeper combination more against right-handed hitters low and inside, adding the changeup less frequently and thrown to the glove-side.
He’s not going to strike out a ton of batters, relying on pitch-to-contact approach, changing speeds and utilizing the plus defense behind him to get outs.
Look to attack the bottom third of the zone and try to cover that area early. Force him to work more up in the zone where he may be more susceptible to making mistakes hanging pitches.
Chance for a series win against a softer starter than yesterday. Bucs bats need to be ready to pounce when they get the chance and get the bats heating back up.
Steel City Pirates 
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