8-4-2025 – By Drew Cagle – @_dcagle on X
After one of the most eventful weeks in recent Pirates history, the club limps home from Denver, Colorado. The Pirates followed up an impressive sweep in San Francisco with an underwhelming series defeat at the hands of the MLB-worst Rockies.
Pittsburgh kicks off a seven-game homestand with a three-game set against the middling San Francisco Giants. After being swept in the aforementioned series by the Pirates, the Giants hit the ground running in the Big Apple. They won a series from a New York Mets team mired in a pennant race.
Though San Francisco is 9 games back in the NL West and 6 games back of a Wild Card spot, the team has slid backward after the All-Star break. A 2-10 mark gave the front office little hope for a playoff push. Closer Camilo Doval was shipped out to the New York Yankees in exchange for four minor league prospects, a move that served as a bit of a ‘white flag’ on the 2025 season.
As for the Pirates, they’re looking to continue the hot hitting they enjoyed in the Mile High City, but also for the pitching to round into form. With the loss of starter Bailey Falter and closer David Bednar, there should be more innings available for youngsters like Braxton Ashcraft, Kyle Nicolas, and Thomas Harrington (though the latter was just sent down to Indianapolis).
8/4
Pirates: RHP Jovan Oviedo (season debut)
Giants: RHP Justin Verlander – 89.1 IP, 1-8, 77 K/34 BB, 4.53 ERA, 1.49 WHIP
8/5
Pirates: RHP Mike Burrows – 58.0 IP, 1-3, 60 K/21 BB, 3.88 ERA, 1.26 WHIP
Giants: RHP Logan Webb – 141.1 IP, 9-8, 155 K/34 BB, 3.31 ERA, 1.25 WHIP
8/6
Pirates: LHP Andrew Heaney – 110.1 IP, 5-9, 79 K/36 BB, 4.89 ERA, 1.31 WHIP
Giants: LHP Robbie Ray – 136.0 IP, 9-5, 140 K/53 BB, 2.85 ERA, 1.12 WHIP
Pirates: Offseason trade acquisition Spencer Horwitz turned in one of the best games of his career on Sunday at Coors Field. He racked up a season-high 6 RBIs on 3 hits, including a pair of long balls. Manager Don Kelly’s insertion of him in the leadoff spot has given the offense a much-needed shot in the arm.
Giants: Fellow infielder and trade piece Rafael Devers hasn’t shown out since his move from the Boston Red Sox, hitting just .233 since the trade. However, a 3-for-4 game on Sunday afternoon against the Mets might just snap him out of that cold spell. He mashed a 3-run home run in the game and drove in 4 total runs.
Pirates: Oneil Cruz enjoyed a 2-hit, 4-RBI night on Friday against the Rockies, but has still struggled over his last five games. He’s just 2 for his last 23 at the plate (.087 average), with 10 strikeouts. In the recent series against the Giants, Cruz was just 1-for-12 and struck out six times.
Giants: Five-time Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman has hit a rough patch at the plate. In his last six games, Chapman is hitting just 5-for-21 (.238 average), while occupying the valuable cleanup spot in San Francisco’s lineup.
Pirates: RHP Justin Lawrence (60-day, elbow), LHP Tim Mayza (60-day, lat), C Endy Rodriguez (60-day, elbow)
Giants: RHP Landon Roupp (15-day, elbow), LHP Erik Miller (15-day, elbow)
Notes
- The Pirates have not won a home series against San Francisco since April 2019. The winning pitchers for the Bucs in that series were Jordan Lyles and Jameson Taillon.
- Pittsburgh continues to own an impressive 31-25 home record, while the Giants own an above-average 28-30 record on the road.
- This’ll be a prove-in series for the Pirates offense. Facing off against three veteran starters in Verlander, Webb, and Ray, they’ll have their work cut out for them.
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