The Pittsburgh Pirates are back home Friday night to face the Atlanta Braves with a new manager but a familiar face in charge.
Pittsburgh fired manager Derek Shelton during its off day on Thursday in the wake of a season-high seven-game losing streak and a 12-26 start. The Pirates promoted bench coach Don Kelly to manager.
Shelton had been with the Pirates for six seasons and compiled a 306-440 record, with no winning seasons.
Kelly, who is expected to manage the remainder of the season, per general manager Ben Cherington, served as Shelton’s bench coach during his entire tenure in Pittsburgh.
“Derek is a good man who did a lot for the Pirates and Pittsburgh, but it was time for a change,” Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said Thursday.
Producing runs has been the biggest issue as the Pirates enter Friday with 118 runs scored — the second fewest in the majors ahead of only the Colorado Rockies (115). Pittsburgh has been shut out seven times and has scored only one run in its past 23 innings. The Pirates have hit just 26 home runs, which ranks last in the National League.
Pittsburgh’s rotation has been generally solid but often forced to be perfect due to the lack of run support. The Pirates had not announced a Friday starter as of Thursday night, but if their rotation remains in order, left-hander Bailey Falter (1-3, 5.06 ERA) would get the start opposite Braves right-hander Bryce Elder (2-1, 5.06).
Falter’s most recent start was an example of that frequently frustrating trend. He allowed one run on two hits and two walks and struck out six over seven innings, but Pittsburgh lost 2-1 to the San Diego Padres on Saturday. Falter is 2-1 with a 5.47 ERA in five career starts against Atlanta.
Unlike the Pirates, the Braves have been able to turn things around in recent weeks following their own poor start. After losing 13 of the first 18 games, Atlanta has won 13 of 19 — including a 5-4 victory in 11 innings over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday.
However, the Braves’ offense also has not flourished as much as expected, putting pressure on the pitching staff.
Atlanta starters have been able to step up of late, however. Chris Sale struck out 10 over 6 2/3 scoreless innings on Tuesday, a day after AJ Smith-Shawver took a no-hitter into the eighth inning. Grant Holmes was touched for four runs in 5 1/3 innings on Wednesday, but Spencer Schwellenbach delivered six innings of one-run ball on Thursday.
“It can be huge,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “I know that because when you lose starting pitching, like we have the last couple of years through free agency and injury and all, it’s just so hard to replace that. And to have guys step up like that could be huge for us.”
Elder gave up two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six in five-plus innings on Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Braves have won his past four starts.
Elder is 1-1 with a 5.25 ERA in two career starts against the Pirates. He gave up five runs in five innings and lost his lone start at Pittsburgh.
–Field Level Media
