Pittsburgh Pirates Set to Host New York Yankees for Two-Game Series

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 29: Jameson Taillon #50 of the New York Yankees pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium on June 29, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 29: Jameson Taillon #50 of the New York Yankees pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium on June 29, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
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PITTSBURGH, PA – JULY 02: Oneil Cruz #15 of the Pittsburgh Pirates high fives with Ke’Bryan Hayes #13 after the final out in a 7-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers during the game at PNC Park on July 2, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – JULY 02: Oneil Cruz #15 of the Pittsburgh Pirates high fives with Ke’Bryan Hayes #13 after the final out in a 7-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers during the game at PNC Park on July 2, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

Tuesday night the Pittsburgh Pirates will welcome the New York Yankees to PNC Park to kick off a brief two-game series against the Bronx Bombers

After spitting a four-game series over the weekend against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Pittsburgh Pirates are set to welcome the best team in baseball to PNC Park. It will be for just a brief two-game series, but the 58-22 New York Yankees are set to come to town.

TORONTO, ON – JUNE 18: Jameson Taillon #50 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch during a MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on June 18, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JUNE 18: Jameson Taillon #50 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch during a MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on June 18, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Jameson Taillon set to return to PNC Park

With no. 2 overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft the Pittsburgh Pirates selected pitcher Jameson Taillon. Taillon’s career with the Pirates proved to be a wild ride filled with injury issues. When he was on the mound, however, Taillon always pitched well.

Taillon had two Tommy John surgeries with the Pirates, as well as a hernia that required surgery. As most baseball fans know, Taillon also had to battle testicular cancer during his time in Pittsburgh.

Due to his second Tommy John surgery Taillon missed the entire 2020 season. Following the 2020 season the Pirates traded Taillon to the Yankees in exchange for Roansy Contreras, Miguel Yajure, Canaan Smith-Njigba, and Maikol Escotto.

In game one of the series Taillon will toe the rubber for the Yankees. When Taillon takes the mound at PNC Park it will be his first time back at PNC Park since being traded, as well as his first time pitching against his former club.

As Taillon prepares to hit free agency for the first time in his career he is putting together a strong season in the Bronx. Taillon has a 3.32 ERA, 3.25 FIP, 3.2% walk rate and a 19.8% strikeout rate in 84 innings pitched across 15 starts.

Taillon should get a great reaction when he returns to the PNC Park mound on Tuesday night. It is one that will be well deserved too with everything he battled during his time in Pittsburgh. Now let’s hope Taillon goes 7 strong but takes a loss.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 28: Clay Holmes #35 of the New York Yankees stands on the mound during the ninth inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium on June 28, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 28: Clay Holmes #35 of the New York Yankees stands on the mound during the ninth inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium on June 28, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) /

To beat the Yankees a team needs to pitch well

The Yankees have assembled one of the best pitching staffs in the American League. Taillon’s success this season has already been discussed, righty Luis Severino will start for the Yankees on Wednesday night and he is have a good season as well. Severino owns a 3.35 ERA, 3.65 FIP, 7.3% walk rate and a 28.9% strikeout rate in 14 starts (78 innings pitched) this season.

New York’s bullpen is one of the best in all of baseball. This makes getting a lead against their starters, which is not easy to do, key in victory. The Yankee bullpen has an ERA of 2.72 which is the second lowest in the American League. Their 24.6% strikeout rate ranks fourth in the AL, and 16 home runs allowed are tied for the fewest in the league.

Avoiding the back end of the Yankee bullpen led by former Pirate turned dominant reliever Clay Holmes is also important. If the Yankee back end relievers are given a lead, odds are, the game is over.

This will put a lot of pressure on Pirate starting pitchers José Quintana and JT Brubaker, who have been the team’s two most consistent starting pitchers this season. It will also add pressure to a Pirate bullpen to hold a lead if given one.

May 4, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Ben Gamel (18) hits a two RBI triple in the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Ben Gamel (18) hits a two RBI triple in the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Players set to join the team

The Pittsburgh Pirates appear set to get more players back from the injured list this week. Duane Underwood Jr. and Zach Thompson were activated off the IL on Sunday. Also on Sunday, general manager Ben Cherington said he expects Yoshi Tsutsugo and Ben Gamel to re-join the team for their series against the Yankees.

Getting Tsutsugo back could be a bigger boost for the Pirate lineup than people may expect. Michael Chavis has played strong defense at first base and mashed against left-handed pitching, but he is in dire need of a platoon partner. That platoon partner could be Tsutsugo who hit the ball extremely well during his rehab assignment.

Prior to getting injured Gamel was one of the team’s best hitters. Gamel will likely take over as the team’s every day left fielder again and should help lengthen a struggling Pirate lineup. At least until the end of the month when he will likely be traded.

Sunday also saw the Pirates acquired left-handed reliever Manny Bañuelos from the Yankees. Cherington said they expect Bañuelos to join the team prior to the start of Tuesday’s game. So another roster move will have to be made there as well.

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