Here are the match-ups to watch as the Pittsburgh Pirates begin a 10-game home-stand with a three-game slate against the Atlanta Braves.
The Pittsburgh Pirates enter the series with a 19-17 record, sitting eight games behind the Cubs in the division. The Braves are on the opposite side of the spectrum, coming into the series with a major league worst 9-27 record. Despite the struggles the Braves have endured this season, they serve as a team that the Pirates should not take lightly. They have an abundance of talent, thus creating matchups that will be highly anticipated.
3.) Jon Niese vs Freddie Freeman
Having pitched against the Braves often when he was a member of the New York Mets, Jonathon Niese may have the most experience against Atlanta out of any of the five Pirates starting pitchers.
One of the longest tenured Braves is first baseman Freddie Freeman, who happens to be one of their best offensive weapons. He has 49 career at-bats against Niese, the most of anyone on the Braves team. He also trails only Jimmy Rollins (54) for most career at-bats against the left-hander.
In his career against Niese, Freeman is 11-for-49 (.224) with two home runs and seven RBI’s. However, Niese has found a way to pile up strikeouts against the left handed power hitter, striking him out seven times and allowing zero walks.
Based on the long history between the two, tonight’s game should provide yet another chapter in their long history of battles against each other. Niese has historically had success against Freeman, however, it will be interesting to see if this trend continues in their latest matchup.
2.) Pirates lineup vs Aaron Blair
Tomorrow night, the Braves send Aaron Blair to the mound for only his fifth major league start. In four starts this season, Blair is 0-2 with a 4.05 ERA. He will face the Pirates for the very first time and his first matchup against them may be entirely in the home team’s favor.
This season, Blair has 11 walks compared to just seven strikeouts in his four starts. As a team, the Pirates walk a whole lot and don’t strike out as often as other teams in the league, ranking fifth in the majors in total team walks (145) and 20th in total team strikeouts (289).
This matchup is on our top three matchups to watch list for a simple reason. It’s easy to expect that the Pirates will walk a lot against a young, rookie pitcher who has shown a lack of command in his short major league career.
The Pirates as a team have shown to have a very patient approach at the plate, walking more as a team than they have in the past. This and their high power offense is bound to be a difference maker as they look to hand Blair his third loss of the season.
1.) Andrew McCutchen vs Julio Teheran
In game three of this four game series, Braves ace Julio Teheran takes the mound to make his sixth career start against the Pirates. In his career against the Bucs, Teheran is 2-1 with a 4.32 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 33.1 innings. This season, Teheran has been stellar for the Braves, but remains winless in eight starts, compiling an 0-4 record with a 3.17 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 48.1 innings.
One player in particular that seems to have Teheran’s number is Pirates star center fielder Andrew McCutchen. In his career against Teheran, McCutchen is 5-for-12 (.417) with one double, two home runs, four RBI’s, one walk and two strikeouts.
For McCutchen, Teheran provides a favorable matchup at just the right time. After a tough month of April in which he hit .226, McCutchen has picked it up in the month of May, hitting .300 with three home runs and six RBI’s in 12 games.
Despite the recent turnaround in his overall game, McCutchen also tends to strike out a lot, leading the Pirates in that category with 38 punchouts this season. It will be key for McCutchen to get ahead in the count against Teheran and put himself in a favorable situation to avoid the strikeouts. Teheran is a major strikeout pitcher so it will be interesting to see who wins this battle. The star center fielder who is beginning to get hot following an early season slump, or the tough luck Braves ace who is looking for his first victory of 2016?
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