The strikeout-prone Oakland Athletics (12-50) will have their work cut out for them at PNC Park on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates (32-27) and Mitch Keller, owner of this season’s best K/9 rate. The Pirates took Monday’s series opener 5-4, their sixth straight victory overall.
Angel Perdomo threw 0.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen to get the win, and Colin Holderman earned his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth.
Mark Mathias went 1 for 2 with two walks and two runs in the win. Connor Joe added a double and one RBI. Ryan Noda was 2 for 3 with a double, one run, and one RBI for the Athletics. Brent Rooker added two runs on two hits.
ON THE MOUND
James Kaprielian (0-6, 8.12 ERA) is in line to take the mound for Oakland. The righty allowed three runs over 4.2 innings in his last start, a 4-2 road defeat against the Braves on Wednesday.
He was charged with the loss, yielding five hits while striking out four and walking one. For Pittsburgh, righty Keller (7-1, 3.25 ERA) gets the start. It’s his first appearance of the season against the Athletics. In his last start on Wednesday, Keller got the win on the road against the Giants.
He threw six innings and gave up four runs on 10 hits, striking out eight and walking one in the 9-4 triumph. The RHP is tied for the NL lead in wins and is second in strikeouts (93).
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Oakland has averaged 2.4 runs a game, a small drop compared to their season average of 3.4. Against right-handed pitchers like Keller this season, the A’s have a .619 OPS, the lowest in MLB.
Noda is the team’s strongest hitter against right-handers with a .863 OPS in 139 at-bats. Pittsburgh is averaging 5.4 runs per game in the last five, up from 4.4 for the season, with an improved slash line (.306/.376/.444).
The Bucs have a .725 OPS against right-handers in 2023. With a .954 OPS over 117 at-bats, Jack Suwinski has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Oakland is on a 15-game losing streak away from Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, bringing their record to 5-26 in 2023. The A’s have scored 3.6 runs per game away from home, while allowing 7.3 runs. Pittsburgh has won four in a row at their home ballpark.
The Bucs are 16-13 at home this season, averaging 4.0 runs per game while surrendering 4.6. Oakland is 6-4 in the last 10 games between the teams at PNC Park with an average scoreline of 4.1-3.1.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Athletics are fifth in the AL West, 28 games behind the division-leading Rangers. The Pirates lead the NL Central by zero games over the Brewers.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Pittsburgh Pirates -1.5 (-125)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
