7-28-2025 – By Josh Poe – @DaRealHanYolo on X
The Pirates travel to San Francisco to take on the Giants for three games this week. The Bucs will look to continue their nice little stretch as they are 5-1 over their last six games, which is impressive considering how poorly they entered and exited the All-Star break. And after a back-to-back series where they kept two pretty good offensive teams at bay – including only giving up one run to the Diamondbacks – it will be pretty interesting to see if they can keep it going, especially against a team who is fighting for a playoff spot in San Francisco.
On the other hand, for the Giants, this is a big series for them. The Giants have only one series win in their last four series, including two sweeps. And in these four series, they have only scored 3+ runs 3 times. They currently sit 3 games back of the final wild card spot, so this series is a sort of make-or-break time for them. If they lose the series, or even worse, get swept, does that kick them toward sellers for the trade deadline? Consequently, would winning or sweeping for the Giants make them more aggressive at the deadline?
This is also the last series before the trade deadline so it’s officially #hugwatch time. Make sure to watch this week (despite the West Coast start time) because it may be the last time you get to see some of these guys rock the Black and Gold, and who knows? The Pirates may look completely different come Friday.
7/28
Pirates: Mitch Keller (R) 4-10, 3.53 ERA, 125.0 IP, 97 K, 30 BB, 1.16 WHIP
Giants: Carson Whisenhunt (L) Giants’ No.3 prospect debut – (AAA stats) 8-5, 4.42 ERA, 97.2 IP, 86 K, 28 BB, 1.33 WHIP
7/29
Pirates: Bailey Falter (L) 7-5, 3.82 ERA, 108.1 IP, 69 K, 35 BB, 1.18 WHIP
Giants: Justin Verlander (R) 1-8, 4.70 ERA, 84.1 IP, 70 K, 33 BB, 1.49 WHIP
7/30
Pirates: Mike Burrows (R) 1-3, 4.15 ERA, 52.0 IP, 53 K, 20 BB, 1.33 WHIP
Giants: Logan Webb (R) 9-8, 3.38 ERA, 135.2 IP, 144 K, 30 BB, 1.24 WHIP
Pirates: David Bednar – I know I mentioned him in my last preview, but with the deadline looming, I want to discuss him in case he gets traded (I hope he doesn’t). Bednar hasn’t given up an earned run since MAY 23! He has faced 32 batters in July and only given up 5 hits. He has been simply electric and is fully back to his all-star form, and I can’t be happier for him….PLEASE KEEP HIM.
Giants: Rafael Devers – Devers was the most significant trade in the MLB since Juan Soto. However, in the first stretch, he was struggling, as was the whole team. However, he has recently been on a better stretch. In the last seven days, he is batting .385 with two homers before an 0 for 4 performance last night. But, it seems that he is coming around, which for the Giants to have a shot at a run down the stretch, he has to get going.
Pirates: Isiah Kiner-Falefa – IKF has had a very interesting year with some stretches where he hits everything and stretches where he can’t hit. In July, he is 13 for 59, a .220 average, which, when you provide little to no power, really does nothing for the team. He also has just two extra-base hits this month, so it hasn’t been that good. But, with the deadline coming, IKF is probably gonna go, so it’s perhaps Cam Devanney time!
Giants: Justin Verlander – This may be the only time ever you get to put Justin Verlander in a cold stretch, but here we are. Verlander just got his first win in his last start, but he has had a very up-and-down season. In his previous five starts, his inning count has resembled that of two different pitchers (5, 2.2, 6, 3, 6), and his ERA in July is 6.48. With an average of 3.75 strikeouts, which for Verlander is a very low number. Which Verlander will we get in this series is hard to tell, but we shall see.
Pirates: Johan Oviedo (60 Day), Chase Shugart (15 Day), Ryan Borucki (15 Day), Malcom Nunez (7 Day), Anthony Solomento (60 Day), Justin Lawrence (60 Day), Tim Mayza (60 Day), Endy Rodriguez (60 Day), Jared Jones (60 Day), Enmanuel Valdez (60 Day)
Giants: Christian Koss (10 Day), Jerar Encarnacion (10 Day), Ethan Small (7 Day), Ryan Murphy (60 Day), Cole Waiters (7 Day), Tom Murphy (60 Day), Landen Roupp (15 Day), Erik Miller (15 Day), Sam Huff (DTD)
Notes
- Pittsburgh is hoping to improve upon its awful performance on the road this season, where they have a 13-37 record – 2nd worst road record to the Colorado Rockies (13-40)
- Look out for some Oveido news. He looked good in his start in Altoona, and with the deadline coming, he could be the first man up.
- Cutch is currently tied with Mike Schmidt on the all-time hits list, so his next one will put him past the Phillies legend.
- Like I said at the top, the trade deadline is this week, so be on the lookout for some hopefully good moves for the Pirates.
Subscribe to our site —it’s free —and you’ll receive notifications when there’s something new to read.
Steel City Pirates 