The Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers will take the field on Independence Day at Dodger Stadium. First pitch is at 6:10 p.m. PT.
Pittsburgh (39-44 SU and 40-43 RL) is starting righty Luis Ortiz. The 24-year-old is 2-3 with a 4.11 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP in ten appearances (nine starts) this year.
Los Angeles (46-37 SU and 43-40 RL) is countering with right-hander Emmet Sheehan. The 23-year-old is 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP in his three starts.
The Pirates are five games under .500 and just 5.5 games out of the division lead in the NL Central. With four teams within six games of first place, the second-half race is certainly going to be exciting.
Pitt scores 4.25 runs per game (21st) and hits .241 (20th) with a .709 OPS (21st). It's hit 77 long balls (26th) and stolen 79 bases (5th) in 2023. The Pirates' pitching staff has compiled a 4.31 ERA (18th) and a 1.39 WHIP (24th) with 36 quality starts.
Ortiz will get the start for the visitors on the Fourth of July. He surrendered four runs and six hits vs. San Diego in his last outing but pitched much better in his previous start vs. Miami (one run in eight innings). He's held eight of his ten opponents to three or fewer earned runs this season.