Pittsburgh Pirates look to get back on track against Oakland Athletics

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The Pittsburgh Pirates once 9-2 start is very much in the rearview window at this point, the Pirates enter the last days of April with a 14-15 record on the season and losers of seven of their last 10 games.

This past weekend, the Pirates fell twice to the San Francisco Giants and will now travel across the bay to take on the Oakland Athletics. As expected, the Athletics have been one of the bottom-tier teams in the league through the first month of the season, though they have performed slightly better than expected with a 12-17 record.

After splitting a four-game series with the New York Yankees last week, they took two of three against World Series contenders, the Baltimore Orioles this past weekend in the Charm City and now return home for their clash with the Buccos.

The Pirates will also be hoping for improved results on their performance from last season against the Athletics. Last year, the Athletics took two of three from the Pirates in Pittsburgh, outscoring the Pirates 24-12 in an early June series which included an 11-2 defeat on June 6.

Entering this week, the Athletics' pitching has kept them mostly afloat with the 10th-best ERA in the AL at 4.13. Offensively, despite having the fourth most home runs in the league, the Athletics have the 14th-best run-producing offense in the American League, scoring just 84 runs on the season, an average of 2.89 runs per game. As a team, the Athletics have produced a team slash of .203/.275/.348.

With that, here are this week's pitching matchups for the series.

PITCHING MATCHUPS

MONDAY (9:40 p.m. EDT): Bailey Falter (LHP) vs Joe Boyle (RHP)

After a rough start to the season against Miami, Bailey Falter has rebounded well in his last four starts, allowing just a combined four runs in 23 innings pitched, dropping his ERA to 3.33 on the season. Falter has limited the walks with just seven so far this season while striking out 18.

Falter's season stats: 2-1, 3.33 ERA, 27.0 IP, 17 H, 7 BB, 18 SO, 0.889 WHIP, 125 ERA+

Boyle this season has posted a 7.06 ERA in 21.2 innings pitched, allowing 17 earned runs (18 total) on 23 hits and 16 walks while striking out 24. Notably, the long ball has not been Boyle's issue this season, allowing just two on the season.

Boyle's season stats: 1-4, 7.06 ERA, 21.2 IP, 23 H, 16 BB, 24 SO, 1.800 WHIP, 54 ERA+

TUESDAY (9:40 p.m. EST): Mitch Keller (RHP) vs Alex Wood (RHP)

Mitch Keller's first month of regular season baseball following his extension this spring has not been kind. He'll enter Tuesday's start with a 5.14 ERA across six starts, allowing 20 earned runs (22 total) in 35 innings of work, allowing 39 hits and 13 walks in the process. Notably while his ERA is an ugly 5.14, his FIP (fielding independent pitching) is a much lower and easier to swallow, 4.12, much more aligned with his career averages.

Keller's season stats: 2-2, 5.14 ERA, 35.0 IP, 39 H, 13 BB, 32 K, 1.486 WHIP, 81+ ERA

Wood like Keller has struggled through his first six tarts, allowing 20 earned runs in 27.1 innings pitched but his last start against New York was a step in the right direction, going five and two-thirds, allowing one earned run while stranding 10 base runners.

Wood's season stats: 1-2, 6.59 ERA, 27.1 IP, 41 H, 13 BB, 25 SO, 1.976 WHIP, 57 ERA+

WEDNESDAY (3:37 p.m. EST): Quinn Priester (RHP) vs Ross Stripling (RHP)

After struggling in his first start of the season against Boston, Quinn Priester was much better this past weekend against San Francisco, pitching six shutout innings allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out six. He'll look to continue to build upon that momentum

Priester's season stats: 0-1, 3.48 ERA, 10.1 IP, 10 H, 2 BB, 8 K, 1.161 WHIP, 123 ERA+

Stripling will enter his seventh start of the season on Wednesday, sporting a 4.98 ERA across 34.1 innings pitched, allowing 19 earned runs and 25 total. Strippling has been getting hit around a bit this season with 43 hits allowed in his time on the mound but has kept the walks low with just eight in his six games. Notably, his FIP is just 3.56, a stark difference from his 4.98 ERA.

Strippling's season stats: 0-5, 4.98 ERA, 34.1 IP, 43 H, 8 BB, 25 SO, 1.458 WHIP, 76 ERA+

THE ATHLETICS AT THE PLATE

So far through the season, the Athletics have used quite a few different combinations of lineups, making it hard to project what their lineup may look like any given night. That being said, there are a few players to know of in their lineup.

C Shea Langeliers

Langeliers is one of the Athletics' best power threats with six home runs on the season and 12 RBI. That being said, he's also struck out 21 times in 85 at-bats and has only walked five times this season. He is also sporting a 75+ OPS while also posting a slash of .165/.215/.388.

DH Brent Rooker

Many will remember Rooker for his breakout season in 2023. In 2024, he has continued to put up solid numbers including a 130 OPS+. So far in 62 at-bats, he's hitting .210/.290/.500 with five home runs and 13 RBI while also hitting a trio of doubles.

INF Tyler Nevin

The Athletics key utility player, Tyler Nevin is leading the team's regulars with a .286/.342/.400 slash while hitting a pair of home runs and driving in six this season. He also has two doubles.

RF Lawrence Butler

The last hitter to probably truly know at this juncture is Lawrence Butler, a 23-year-old outfielder who has shown some flashes despite a .205 batting average. Butler has two home runs, four doubles, and five RBI this season while walking 12 times, which leads all A's hitters.

OF Estuary Ruiz

Ruiz was surrounded in controversy earlier this season when the Athletics sent him down to AAA despite being arguably their best player. This season in 32 at-bats, Ruiz is hitting .250/.324/.531 with two home run and four RBI. He also has two stolen bases.

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