The Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles have gone through similar seasons, including manager changes this year.
They get a chance to compare notes Tuesday night in Baltimore for the opener of a three-game series.
The Orioles (66-77) are going from playing two of the best teams in the National League, winning five of six games against the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers, to a matchup up with one of the NL’s worst teams.
The Pirates (64-80) are on a three-game losing streak after they were swept by the Milwaukee Brewers. That followed taking all three games in a home sweep of the Dodgers.
Pittsburgh interim manager Don Kelly said Sunday’s 10-2 blowout defeat to the Brewers at least gave him a chance to substitute liberally.
“Wanted to get those guys off their feet a little bit,” Kelly said of some of the regulars.
Pirates rookie infielder Cam Devanney secured his first big-league RBI with a pinch-hit double Sunday.
The Pirates would like to see what kind of impact outfielder Ji Hwan Bae can make with more opportunities. On Sunday, he was in his first big-league game since May.
“Bae’s speed is unbelievable,” Kelly said.
The Orioles saw a pair of starters depart early in the series against the Dodgers. Tomoyuki Sugano left Sunday’s game early after he was hit on the foot by a batted ball in the fourth inning. Dean Kremer had an early exit from his start Friday night.
“The bullpen just covered quite a few more innings than the starters here over a three-game stretch,” Baltimore interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “And that happens over the course of the year. That’s not super unusual; it’ll happen. But those guys handled it really good. We won two of three.”
Baltimore catcher Samuel Basallo might be available Tuesday after sitting out Sunday with a hand injury.
“This late in the year, the bodies are beat up,” Orioles catcher Alex Jackson said. “It’s part of the game, but we have to keep going. We’re in there taking care of ourselves, keeping ourselves going and getting back out on the field and making sure we’re available.”
Right-hander Mike Burrows (2-4, 4.08 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Pirates, while facing the Orioles for the first time in his career. He delivered three shutout innings in relief to pick up the victory Wednesday against Los Angeles.
Burrows has transitioned to shorter appearances in order to reduce his workload during his first extended run on a major league roster.
Baltimore right-hander Kyle Bradish (0-1, 3.60 ERA) is set to start Tuesday. It will be his third appearance (all starts) since returning from Tommy John surgery. He has thrown at least 81 pitches in both outings and went four innings Sept. 1 at San Diego in his most recent work.
Bradish has recorded 15 strikeouts across 10 innings this year. He’ll be seeing Pittsburgh for only the second time in his career after not allowing an earned run over six innings of a 2023 start.
The Pirates, who scored a total of five runs in three games vs. the Brewers, have gone 4-2 in their last six road games with stops in St. Louis and Boston.
–Field Level Media
