Series Preview: Boston Red Sox vs. Pittsburgh Pirates 4/19-4/21

The Boston Red Sox will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend.  The Red Sox are coming off a series loss to the Guardians, while the Pirates are coming off being swept by the Mets.

Boston Red Sox (10-10) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (11-8)

Game 1:

Date: Friday, April 19
Time: 6:40 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN

Game 2:

Date: Saturday, April 20
Time: 4:05 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN

Game 3:

Date: Sunday, April 21
Time: 1:35 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN

Probable Starting Pitchers

Game 1: Brayan Bello (2-1, 3.92 ERA) vs. Marco Gonzales (0-0, 2.65 ERA)

Bello will get the series started he is 2-1 with a 3.92 ERA, a 4.77 FIP, a 1.21 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts in 20.2 innings. His last start came against the Angels going 5.1 innings giving up two runs on six hits; he walked two and struck out eight. He has never faced Pittsburgh in his career. Gonzales goes for the Pirates he is 0-0 with a 2.65 ERA, a 3.58 FIP, a 1.17 WHIP, with 11 strikeouts in 17 innings. His last start came against the Phillies, he went six innings giving up two runs on six hits; he walked three and struck out five. In his career against the Red Sox, he has made six starts going 1-3 with a 7.57 ERA, a 1.72 WHIP, and 25 strikeouts in 27.1 innings.

Game 2: Kutter Crawford (0-0, 0.42 ERA) vs. Mitch Keller (2-1, 4.50 ERA)

Crawford gets the middle game for the Red Sox and he is 0-0 with a 0.42 ERA, a 2.24 FIP, a 0.79 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts in 21.1 innings. His last start came on Patriot’s Day going 5.2 innings, he didn’t allow a run on two hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out six. In his career against Pittsburgh, he made one start taking a loss going four innings giving up seven runs on eight hits; he walked two and struck out six. Keller will get the ball for the Pirates and he is 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA, a 3.56 FIP, a 1.45 WHIP, and 21 strikeouts in 24 innings. In his last start, he went seven innings giving up two runs on eight hits; he didn’t walk anyone and struck out four. In his career against the Red Sox, he is 1-1 in two starts with a 5.00 ERA, a 1.56 WHIP, and eight strikeouts in nine innings.

Game 3: TBD vs. Martin Perez (1-0, 2.55 ERA)

The Red Sox haven’t announced a starter for this one, it was supposed to be Garrett Whitlock but he is on the injured list and will miss his next two starts. Perez will go for Pittsburgh he is 1-0 with a 2.55 ERA, a 3.45 FIP, a 1.25 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts in 24.2 innings. His last start came against the Mets going 5.2 innings giving up three runs on six hits; he walked two and struck out one. In his career against the Red Sox, he is 5-2 with a 4.28 ERA, a 1.53 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts in 54.2 innings.

Boston Red Sox vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Leaders

Red Sox:

AVG – Jarren Duran – .301
HR – Tyler O’Neill – 7
RBI – Triston Casas – 9
IP – Tanner Houck – 26.2
ERA – Kutter Crawford – 0.42
K – Tanner Houck – 28

Pirates:

AVG – Ke’Bryan Hayes – .277
HR – Oneil Cruz – 3
RBI – Bryan Reynolds – 13
IP – Martin Perez – 24.2
ERA – Martin Perez – 2.55
K – Jared Jones – 32

Boston Red Sox vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Numbers

Red Sox

AVG: .224 (24)
OPS: .676 (22)
R: 85 (17)
HR: 24 (3)
ERA: 2.70 (1)
K: 189 (1)
WHIP: 1.14 (3)

Pirates

AVG: .244 (15)             
OPS:  .694 (17)
R: 92 (11)
HR: 16 (23)
ERA: 3.94 (13)
K: 161 (19)
WHIP: 1.17 (5)

Wrap Up

The Red Sox look to get right against the Pirates. The Pirates got off to a hot start but have since cooled off which is the same as last season however last season when the two teams played the Pirates beat the Red Sox and the season drastically changed, this season if the Red Sox can come out on top it’ll turn things around for them.