Although the 2014 season is still very young, we have already seen quite a few ups and downs for the Pittsburgh Pirates. After winning their first three series with a 6-3 record, the Bucs have lost two in a row with a 1-5 record. Three of those losses came against the Milwaukee Brewers, the team the Pirates will be hosting in a four game series this weekend at PNC Park.
The Pirates lost two of three games to the Cincinnati Reds this week, including a frustrating 4-0 shutout loss yesterday against Johhny Cueto, who tossed a three-hit complete game. After scoring 13 runs in the first two games at Great American Ballpark, the Bucs couldn’t manage a single run yesterday.
Entering tonight’s game, the Bucs sit with a 7-8 record, whereas the Brewers are at 10-4 and atop the N.L. Central, despite losing two of three to the St. Louis Cardinals this week. The Pirates have an opportunity for redemption this weekend, but it is also a very important series in which they MUST take at least two out of the four games. They need to keep the N.L. Central a tight race throughout the season, and fifteen games in, they are already four games back of the Brew Crew.
Pitching Matchups:
4/17 – Yovani Gallardo (MIL) (2-0, 0.96 ERA, WHIP 1.07) vs. Edinson Volquez (PIT) (0-0, 1.29 ERA, WHIP 0.79)
4/18 – Kyle Lohse (MIL) (2-1, 3.05 ERA, WHIP 1.11) vs. Charlie Morton (PIT) (0-1, 3.32 ERA, WHIP 1.21)
4/19 – Matt Garza (MIL) (0-2, 3.43 ERA, WHIP 1.10) vs. Wandy Rodriguez (PIT) (0-2, 7.31 ERA, WHIP 1.56)
4/20 – Marco Estrada (MIL) (1-1, 3.06 ERA, WHIP 1.13) vs. Gerrit Cole (PIT) (2-1, 4.74 ERA, WHIP 1.42)
After a rough week of baseball on the road, the Pirates return home to PNC Park, beginning with a huge four game series against the Brewers. Be sure to stay tuned right here for the latest recaps and reactions to each and every Pirates game from us, the Fans From The Stands!
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
