Pittsburgh Pirates Set to Host Red Birds in Weekend Series

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 27: Phillip Evans #24 of the Pittsburgh Pirates high fives with Adam Frazier #26 after the final out in a 2-1 win over the Kansas City Royals at PNC Park on April 27, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 27: Phillip Evans #24 of the Pittsburgh Pirates high fives with Adam Frazier #26 after the final out in a 2-1 win over the Kansas City Royals at PNC Park on April 27, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
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Apr 26, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) pitches during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) pitches during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Game Three
Date: Sunday, May 2, 2021
When: 1:05 PM ET
Pitching Matchup: TBD vs Adam Wainwright (4.08 ERA, 3.96 FIP)

Veteran Adam Wainwright has been a nemesis of the Pittsburgh Pirates for over 15 years. Sunday afternoon, he will once again toe the rubber at PNC Park as the 39-year-old righty continues to chug along.

In 5 starts this season Wainwright has pitched 28.1 innings. He has just 5.0% of batters faced while striking out 26.4% which is the highest strikeout rate of his career. The home run ball has plagued him some this season, having allowed 5 which comes out to a 1.57 HR/9. Wainwright’s fastball spin rate is in the 57th percentile of baseball and his still deadly curveball is in the 89th percentile.

Wainwright has had reverse splits through his first 5 starts this season. Left-handed hitters have hit just .214/.279/.321 off of Wainwright, while right-handed hitters have hit for a .316/.350/.544 slash line off of the veteran.

As of this writing the Pittsburgh Pirates had not announced a starter for Sunday afternoon. Due to having two off days this past week, Tyler Anderson (3.38 ERA, 3.50 FIP), who is off to a terrific start this season, would be able to pitch on his normal rest. Sticking with five starting pitchers would put Wil Crowe (3.86 ERA, 3.52 FIP) in line to start.

Schedule