It’s the continuation of a battle of National League teams from the Keystone State in the City of Brotherly Love. The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road as they play the middle game of a three-game set with the Philadelphia Phillies Saturday evening. Pittsburgh was swept at home by Atlanta as they were clobbered 14-2 in the finale of that set Wednesday afternoon. Philadelphia swept a four-game series from Cincinnati at home, capped by a 4-0 victory on Thursday in the series finale. This article was published prior to the conclusion of the series opener at Citizens Bank Park Friday night.
Pittsburgh suffered their fifth straight loss and their 11th in the last 13 games as they were blasted by Atlanta in the series finale Wednesday. The Pirates entered Friday last in the NL Central, 24.5 games behind the Cardinals for the top spot in the division. They were 20 games behind the Padres for the final wild card spot in the National League playoff picture. On Wednesday, Pittsburgh finished with six hits with Ke’Bryan Hayes the lone player with two in the game. Kevin Newman hit his first homer of the season, a solo shot, in the loss as the Pirates didn’t score until the ninth. Mitch Keller (4-10) was shelled as he allowed seven runs (two earned) on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts over 3.2 innings of work.
Tyler Beede is on the mound for his 28th appearance and fifth start of the year overall: it’s his 22nd appearance and fi fth start with the Pirates. He comes in 1-3 with a 4.13 ERA, a 1.49 WHIP, 24 walks and 32 strikeouts over 52.1 innings of work this season. Beede took the loss in his last start, which came last Saturday against the Reds at home. He allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits with one walk and two strikeouts over four innings in a 10-1 Pirates loss. In his last three starts, Beede is 0-2 with a 5.65 ERA, a 1.81 WHIP, six walks and eight strikeouts over 14.1 innings of work. Beede makes his fourth career appearance and third start against the Phillies in this contest. He comes in 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA, a 1.539 WHIP, four walks and 12 strikeouts over 13 innings of work. Beede took the loss in his lone career start at Citizens Bank Park, which came with the Giants on July 30, 2019. He threw five innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits with two walks and four strikeouts in a 4-2 Giants defeat.