06-09-2025 – By Gary Morgan – @garymo2007 on X
The Pirates are coming off easily their best series of the season, at least as we talk to the outcome, a 3 game sweep of the currently struggling but very competitive for the top of the NL East Philadelphia Phillies.
A team that just swept them in Philly earlier in the season.
The Marlins are coming off of being swept by the Rockies and dropping 2 of 3 to the Rays. The Pirates are not a team that can take their foot off the gas in any way regardless of whom the opponent is, and here’s hoping they don’t treat this series as a break in the gauntlet, because if they do, they’ll miss an opportunity to actually put together a nice string of winning ball.
6/6
Marlins: Eury Perez – First MLB game since 2023 | Returning from UCL Procedure
Pirates: Mike Burrows 1-1 | 5.27 | 13.2 IP | 11 K | 4 BB | 1.32 WHIP
6/7
Marlins: TBA
Pirates: Mitch Keller 1-8 | 4.13 ERA | 76.1 IP | 61 K | 20 BB | 1.27 WHIP
6/8
Marlins: TBA
Pirates: Bailey Falter 4-3 | 3.49 ERA | 69.2 IP | 43 K | 24 BB | 1.12 WHIP
Marlins: Jesus Sanchez has been good, and he’s been good for a while. Most of the “who’s hot” sections, we’re talking about super recent performance, but Sanchez has been steady. In his last 30 games, .303 average, .374 OBP and a .468 Slug. Something has to give in this series because Sanchez historically has no success against the Pirates. In 23 games .182 AVG, .229 OBP, .221 SLG, .450 OPS and no homeruns.
Pirates: Bryan Reynolds in his last 15 has posted a .345 AVG, .446 OBP and a .564 SLG, although he was slowed in the series with Philly, so was everyone else and it speaks to how torrid he was coming into that one.
Marlins: Kyle Stowers has been interesting this year, and his overall numbers are impressive, but his last 15 have really been tough. 15 K’s vs only 3 BB, .212 AVG, .255 OPB, .250 SLG.
Pirates: Spencer Horwitz hasn’t been here long enough to judge him in any long term way, but he’s scuffling in his last 15 batting just .196, with a .262 OBP and slugging just .304. He’s not started 3 of the last 4 games as the Pirates faced lefty starters, but for this offense to really take a step, Horwitz need to probably take the first one.
Marlins: Kyle Stowers didn’t start for 4 straight games but pinch hit yesterday, he’s considered day to day with a hand injury, but the Marlins manager mentioned he expects to start him tonight. Jesus Tinoco out with forearm strain. Max Meyer is out with a hip inpingement. Derek Hill is out with a wrist sprain.
Pirates: The Pirates could have Joey Bart coming back off the 7-Day IL for concussion very soon. Dauri Moreta is creeping up on decision time, they either call him up and end his rehab or option him to continue to work. Johan Oviedo continues to rehab. Endy Rodriguez has been placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation, and there is hope this isn’t going to lead to another UCL procedure.
Notes
- The Pirates are a better team than the Marlins, and if they play their game it should play out on the field, but Eury Perez returning along with two TBA spots for the pitchers they’ll face could send the Pirates into a series they simply can’t prepare for in the way they like to. Honestly, I’m not sure if that’s bad or good.
- I have a feeling about Spencer Horwitz. I think sitting for a few games and getting a chance to reset with Matt Hague a bit in the last stretch of games could pay dividends.
- It’s not often the Pirates head into a series expected to win, and the best way to win those is to not feel that way at all. Don Kelly has a bit of a test keeping David interested in facing non Goliath competition after just slaying Goliath.
Steel City Pirates 