It’s the conclusion of a weekend interleague set on the diamond down in Charm City. The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road as they close out a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles Sunday afternoon. In the opening game of the series on Friday night, Baltimore scratched out a 1-0 victory in an unexpected pitchers’ duel to draw first blood. Which team comes through with the victory here on getaway day and heads into the new week on a positive note? This article was published prior to the conclusion of the middle game of the series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards Saturday afternoon.
Pittsburgh saw their three-game win streak come to an end as they were unable to generate any offense in the opening game of this series Friday night. The Pirates entered Saturday third in the NL Central race, 15 games behind the Brewers and Cardinals for the top spot in the division. They were a similar 15 games behind the Cardinals, Brewers and Phillies, who were all tied for the final wild card spot in the National League. On Friday night, Pittsburgh finished with six hits with no player recording more than one and the team was zero for six with runners in scoring position. Mitch Keller (3-8) pitched well but took a bitter loss. He threw six innings, allowing one run on eight hits with one walk and one strikeout before departing.
Bryse Wilson is expected to make his 15th appearance and 12th start of the season for the Pirates in this contest. He comes in 1-6 with a 6.20 ERA, a 1.574 WHIP, 18 walks and 42 strikeouts over 61 innings of work this season. Wilson didn’t factor in the decision in his last start, which came against the Brewers Tuesday at home. He threw 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on six hits with one walk and two strikeouts in a game the Pirates won 5-3. In his last three starts, Wilson is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, two walks and seven strikeouts over 14.2 inning of work. Wilson didn’t factor in the decision in his lone career appearance against the Orioles, which came in relief with the Braves on September 14, 2020. He allowed one run on one hit with no walks and two strikeouts in one inning of work as the Braves were drubbed 14-1. That outing came at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, giving him at least a little familiarity with the venue.