Our Clients:

Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Sep 13, 2023 3:57 am

Jackson Rutledge likely to make Nats debut vs. Pirates

Halfway through the four-game series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the visiting Washington Nationals, the set has a feel of some sort of showdown.

And perhaps it is, if only to see where they stand against each other in the lower part of the National League standings.

Washington (65-80) will have to win the final two games of the series to equal Pittsburgh’s record after the Pirates (67-78) won 5-1 on Tuesday for a split of the first two games.

The Nationals had just six hits on Tuesday but still hit the ball hard, leading outfielder Joey Meneses, who went 2-for-4 with a double, to note that “it could have been different. I just can’t tell you that because of those hard-hit balls we’re going to win the game.”

Washington manager Dave Martinez acknowledged that his hitters are following instructions.

“I like the way we’re swinging the bats,” Martinez said. “We hit first and we walk second, so we’re going to be aggressive.”

Pittsburgh, when it wins, is often relying on a number of young and inexperienced players who have mostly joined the team in the last couple months.

“Winning is the best feeling ever when you play this game. It feels good,” one of those players, Pirates rookie catcher Endy Rodriguez, told AT&T Sportsnet through an interpreter.

Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a single, a double, a walk and two runs on Tuesday. He also has been noticed for his work behind the plate, particularly his handling of Pittsburgh’s staff, which has struggled at times to find a starter from game to game.

Both teams are thinking a bit outside the box for their starters Wednesday. Right-hander Jackson Rutledge is expected to join Washington from Triple-A Rochester to make his major league debut, while Pittsburgh will go with right-hander Colin Selby (2-1, 8.64 ERA).

Selby, a rookie who has never faced the Nationals, is slated to serve as an opener, with Quinn Priester, who was added to the Pirates’ taxi squad on Tuesday, expected to be added to the roster and pitch most of the innings.

Priester made his first six major league appearances, all starts, between mid-July and mid-August this season before going back to Triple-A Indianapolis.

In his most recent big-league start, Priester gave up six runs and seven hits in five innings, with three strikeouts and three walks on Aug. 14 in a loss against the New York Mets, who scored in each of the five innings.

“You’re always looking for those things to get better at,” Priester said after that outing. “You have starts like (this) where there’s a lot of things you can get better at.”

Priester apparently worked on those things. Since he was demoted, he had a 2.66 ERA over four starts and 20 1/3 innings, with 32 strikeouts and 12 walks. He struck out 10 in his most recent appearance with Indianapolis, a Thursday victory over Toledo.

Rutledge, 24, is a 6-foot-8 hard thrower who had a combined 3.71 ERA in 23 starts for Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester this season.

–Field Level Media

You may also like

rhy hoskins
Jul 5, 2025 9:38 pm

Brewers 1B Rhys Hoskins (thumb) expected to miss ‘a few days’

The Milwaukee Brewers expect first baseman Rhys Hoskins to miss “a few days” after he exited the team’s 4-2 loss vs. the Miami Marlins on Saturday with left thumb discomfort….

blake snell
Jul 5, 2025 9:34 pm

Report: Dodgers’ Blake Snell, Blake Treinen trending toward return

The Los Angeles Dodgers could soon welcome back starting pitcher Blake Snell and reliever Blake Treinen, as they are reportedly moving toward a return after lengthy stints on the injured…

Paul Sewald
Jul 5, 2025 9:23 pm

Guardians activate reliever Paul Sewald from IL

The Cleveland Guardians activated Paul Sewald from the injured list and the veteran appeared in relief in Saturday’s game vs. the Detroit Tigers, pitching a perfect eighth inning with one…

More Baseball News

rhy hoskins
Jul 5, 2025 9:38 pm

Brewers 1B Rhys Hoskins (thumb) expected to miss ‘a few days’

The Milwaukee Brewers expect first baseman Rhys Hoskins to miss “a few days” after he exited the team’s 4-2 loss vs. the Miami Marlins on Saturday with left thumb discomfort….

blake snell
Jul 5, 2025 9:34 pm

Report: Dodgers’ Blake Snell, Blake Treinen trending toward return

Paul Sewald
Jul 5, 2025 9:23 pm

Guardians activate reliever Paul Sewald from IL

gleyber torres
Jul 5, 2025 9:12 pm

Tigers All-Star 2B Gleyber Torres (neck) exits vs. Guardians

matt chapman
Jul 5, 2025 8:50 pm

Giants activate 3B Matt Chapman (hand) from IL

Read all
fb-post
advertisment
title-icon

Upcoming events

See all odds
[gs-fb-comments]