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Pittsburgh Pirates set for tough matchup against Los Angeles Dodgers
After losing two of three to the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend in Toronto, the Pittsburgh Pirates return home this week to begin a six-game home stand against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins.
The Pittsburgh Pirates returned home on Monday after losing an interleague series to the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend. Now, Derek Shelton's group will have one of their tougher home stands of the year.
Starting on Tuesday, the Pirates will have six straight home games against the National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers (38-23) and the American League Central's Minnesota Twins (33-26).
The Dodgers come to Pittsburgh on the heels of taking two of three from the Colorado Rockies at home and are 5-5 in their last 10 games. The Dodgers' 38-23 record puts them four games behind the National League East's Philadelphia Phillies for the best record in the National League.
This season, the Dodgers offense has been amongst the best in the league, to no one's surprise thanks to the future Hall of Fame trio of Mookie Betts, Fredie Freeman, and the $700 million man himself, Shohei Ohtani. This season, the Dodgers are averaging 4.8 runs per game. Their pitching has been solid throughout the season as well, allowing just 3.4 runs a night.
So far this month, the Dodgers are off to a solid start with a 2-0 record, scoring eight runs while allowing just one earned run, albeit against the Colorado Rockies, the bottom dwellers of the National League West.
Last season, Los Angeles took four of seven games from the Pirates but the Pirates did defeat the Dodgers twice last April when the National League West power made their visit to the Steel City for a three-game series.
PITCHING MATCHUPS
MONDAY: Tyler Glasnow (RHP) vs Jared Jones (RHP)
Former Pirate Tyler Glasnow returns to Pittsburgh and will make his first career start against his former club. This season, Glasnow has been very good for the Dodgers through 12 starts, collecting a 6-3 record with a 3.04 ERA in 74 innings pitched. He has struck out a league-high 95 so far while walking 21, he notably is also leading the league in wild pitches with eight. Glasnow had a solid month of May, posting a 1-2 record with a 3.48 ERA in five starts.
Jared Jones will look to get back on track with his toughest challenge yet. Last time, Jones had the toughest start of his career, allowing five earned runs in 4.1 innings pitched against the Detroit Tigers. In his last four starts, Jones has posted a 5.24 ERA and a 4.79 FIP in 22.1 innings pitched.
TUESDAY: James Paxton (LHP) vs Paul Skenes (RHP)
After a quality season in Boston last season, posting a 4.50 ERA in 19 starts and 96 innings pitched, James Paxton is off to a very good start with the Dodgers, with an undefeated 5-0 record and a 3.29 ERA in 10 starts. That being said, Paxton's FIP suggests the 35-year-old left-hander is getting a bit lucky with his FIP sitting at what would be a career-high 5.37.
Skenes' first four career starts probably could not have gone much better. Entering his fifth career start, Skenes is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in 22 innings pitched with 30 strikeouts and just five walks. His FIP of 2.41 suggests that the 2023 first overall pitch is pitching just as well as his surface numbers suggest. Like Jones, this will be Skenes' toughest start yet and it should be an exciting one.
WEDNESDAY: Walker Buehler (RHP) vs Bailey Falter (LHP)
After missing the entire 2023 season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, Buehler returned earlier this season and has been up and down. He enters this week with a 1-3 record and a 4.32 ERA in five starts and 25 innings pitched. The two-time top-10 Cy Young Award vote-getter has allowed 33 base runners in his 25 innings pitched and posted a 5.42 FIP. It seems likely only a matter of a time that Buehler turns the corner but he certainly has been scuffling through his first five starts of 2024.
Bailey Falter has been a pleasant surprise for the Pirates this season, and he'll look to continue that against the Dodgers on Wednesday evening. Falter enters his 12th start of the season with a 3.22 ERA and a 3-2 record. According to his 4.52 FIP, he's been getting a bit lucky this season, but he has so far posted a career-low WHIP of 0.948 and has surrendered just 16 walks in 64 innings pitched.
THE DODGERS AT THE PLATE
Truth be told, you could discuss most of the Dodgers starter when it comes to the Dodgers' hitters to know. Out of their 10 qualified hitters, six have posted OPS+ of 124 or better including Sohhei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman who have all posted OPS+ of 150 or above so far this spring. We don't have to say too much more about this trio, they're the best trio in the sport and its not particulary close. Together, the three this season have combined for a .311/.401/.530 line with a combined 30 home runs and 105 RBI in 61 games.
29-year-old catcher Will Smith, who signed a mega-extension earlier in the year, is having a great season, posting a .294/.356/.510 slash line with nine home runs and 37 RBI. His current OPS+ of 145 would be the best of his career since becoming the Dodgers' full-time starter in 2021. The sixth-year catcher has become one of the best in baseball and is proving that this season.
Former Toronto Blue Jay and Seattle Mariners outfielder Teoscar Hernandez is off to a good start this season with a .255/.323/.468 slash and a 124 OPS+. He has 12 home runs and 38 RBI this season. He's been consistent for the Dodgers throughout the season thus far.
Notably, Max Muncy will not be available for the Dodgers this week as he's on the 10-day injured list with an oblique strain. His potential return remains murky after being shutdown on Monday after experiencing pain in his ribcage while swining but the one thing for certain is that the Pirates will not have to face the slugger this week.