It would be an understatement to say that the Pittsburgh Pirates have had an up and down last few weeks.
Following three consecutive series losses to the Texas Rangers, Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Pittsburgh Pirates bounced back, winning two of three against the New York Mets this week at PNC Park.
Despite winning the series, the Bucs took a minor step backward last night, as they traveled to Colorado for a one game makeup of a contest that was postponed on April 28. The Pirates took an 11-5 loss in the makeup game as six Rockies players compiled multi hit games.
This weekend the Pirates (32-28) play in a huge three game series against the St Louis Cardinals (32-28) at PNC park. Both teams are tied for second in the National League Central division behind the Chicago Cubs and this series will be crucial in regards to who takes sole possession of the second spot in the division. These two teams play each other frequently and, as always, this weekend’s matchup is bound to provide some interesting matchups to keep an eye on.
3.) Jordy Mercer vs Michael Wacha
Tonight, Michael Wacha takes the mound for the Cardinals as he is scheduled to go up against Gerrit Cole for the Pirates. Wacha has struggled thus far in 2016, going 2-6 with a 5.16 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP in 12 starts. Wacha, who had a 2-1 record with a 3.07 ERA in five starts in April, is coming off of a miserable month of May in which he went 0-5 with a 6.75 ERA in six starts. In the month of May, Wacha had three outings in which he didn’t reach the fifth inning and also had three outings in which he surrendered four or more earned runs.
To begin the month of June, Wacha hasn’t exactly figured things out. In his first start of the month on June 4, Wacha gave up four earned runs on six hits while walking two and striking out four in five innings of work against the San Francisco Giants.
In his career against the Pirates, Wacha, who will be making his 9th career start against the team, is 3-2 with a 4.02 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched. This season, Wacha has made two starts against the Pirates, giving up four earned runs in each outing. In the two starts combined, Wacha has pitched 10.1 innings while giving up 16 hits and striking out nine.
One player that could provide a spark against Wacha could be a guy that has had minimal success against the right hander throughout his career and that is Jordy Mercer. In his career against Wacha, Mercer is 3-for-15 (.200) with one double, three walks, three strikeouts and a .333 on-base percentage. Mercer, who is hitting .268 with two home runs and 20 RBI’s this season, has consistently been getting on base throughout the last seven games, compiling a .462 OBP with six walks during that span.
It will be very interesting to see whether Wacha can get out of his slump and if Mercer can continue to get on base at the pace that he is at the moment. One thing that is for sure is that the matchup between these two will certainly be one to watch out for.
2.) Jung Ho Kang vs Carlos Martinez
In game two of the three game set, Carlos Martinez takes the mound for the St Louis Cardinals. Martinez, who is in his fourth season with the Cardinals, has been stellar for the red birds this season, compiling a 6-5 record with a 3.76 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 11 starts.
Despite his good overall numbers, they aren’t exactly where they were on pace to be following the month of April. In the first month of the season, Martinez was 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA in four starts. The month of May was entirely different as Martinez was 1-5 with a 5.18 ERA in six starts. He has also given up four or more earned runs in four of his six starts in the month, while walking three or more on four occasions during that same span.
Martinez has been stellar in his last two starts, giving up three runs on nine hits while walking three and striking out 15 in 14 innings combined between the two outings.
Martinez is 2-4 with a 4.57 ERA in 15 appearances (six starts) against the Pirates in his career. He has plenty of experience against many of those in the Pirates lineup given that they are a division foe, but one that could provide an intriguing matchup to watch is Jung Ho Kang.
Despite missing the beginning of the season, Kang has been stellar for the Pirates this season, hitting .289 with eight home runs and 23 RBI’s in 90 at-bats through 28 games.
In his career against Martinez, Kang is 4-for-14 (.286) with one double, two RBI’s, and five strikeouts. Kang, who is hitting .360 in eight June games, is also hitting remarkably better at home (.357) than on the road (.229) this season, so tying this in with his success against Martinez, it could be a favorable matchup for the Pirates Third Baseman. While on the other hand, Martinez could look to build upon his success in his last two starts to cool down the second year player.
This is a matchup that could go either way, but that’s what makes it so worthy of being a part of our list.
1.) David Freese vs Mike Leake
In the series finale on Sunday evening, the Cardinals send Mike Leake to the mound to face off against Jon Niese. Leake, who was signed by the Cardinals in the offseason following six seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants, has been so-so in his first year in St Louis, compiling a 4-4 record with a 4.22 ERA in 12 starts.
Leake started out his tenure with the Cardinals with a month of April in which he didn’t exactly find success. In five April starts, including one against the Pirates, Leake went 0-3 with a 5.83 ERA and 1.40 WHIP.
In the month of May, the Cardinals saw the complete opposite from Leake, who was 4-1 with a 2.31 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP in six starts. Leake also allowed opposing hitters to hit at a .215 clip in the month of May compared to a .282 average in the month of April.
Leake, who is 8-4 with a 3.16 ERA in his career against the Pirates, is making his 26th career start against them, the most starts he has made against any opponent during his major league career.
Due to the abundance of starts he has made against the Pirates, Leake has plenty of experience pitching against the regulars that make up their lineup including Andrew McCutchen, who he has faced more than any other hitter in baseball.
Though he is in his first year with the Pirates, former Cardinal David Freese has hit well against Leake throughout his career, having played in the same division for a number of years when Leake was a member of the Reds. In his career against the Cardinals right hander, Freese is 9-for-19 (.474) with two doubles, one home run, four RBI’s, one walk and one strikeout.
Freese, who is hitting .293 with five home runs and 22 RBI’s in 52 games this season, will provide a prime matchup to watch when he steps in against Leake. Freese has been swinging a hot bat in his last seven games, hitting .400 with one home run and six RBI’s during that span, and he will look to continue that hot streak this weekend against his former team and against a familiar foe in Leake.
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