7-13-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X
Entering the final game before the All Star Break, the Pirates are badly in need of a win as they have lost 8 straight and are in danger of back-to-back-to-back sweeps on the road. Opposing them today hoping to finish their fate is Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson, who is having a solid follow-up to his rookie season as he enters the day with a 5-4 record and 4.08 ERA over 68.1 innings pitched with Minnesota this season.
The Bucs last faced Woods Richardson last June, when he threw 6.1 innings with just one run allowed in the game as he utilizes average-to-below average stuff by changing speed and location in order to find success.
SWR offers a fastball/slider/curve/changeup mix against lefties dropping the change when facing righties. Primarily, he works off the low-90s 4-seam up in the zone and the mid-80s slider running down arm-side.
It’s a small sample size on the season but lefties have had much more success against Woods Richardson, posting a .821 OPS compared to .613 OPS for right handed hitters.
Much of that damage has come against his slider, against which lefties are hitting .458 and slugging .792 as he has struggled to get the breaking ball to, well…break, leading to some devastating results.
Stay on the breaking balls and do damage against any meatball heaters.
I mean, at this point, I think most of us are just looking ahead to seeing Oneil Cruz crush bombs in the Home Run Derby and Paul Skenes striking out the best of the best starting the All Star Game but a team win to end the first half would sound pretty nice too.
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