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.