PITTSBURGH PIRATES NOTES:
THE PIRATES:..ended their season-high 10-game losing streak with last night’s comeback win…Have had four separate winning streaks of at least four games this season, including a season-high seven-game winning streak from 4/17-23.
THE BATTLIN’ BUCCOS: Carlos Santana’s two-out, two-strike, run-scoring single in the ninth inning last night broke a 1-1 tie and paved the way in Pittsburgh’s first win of the year when trailing after eight innings…Prior to last night, Pittsburgh’s last win when trailing after eight innings came on August 19, 2022, against the Reds at PNC Park…It was also Pittsburgh’s first win when trailing after eight innings on the road since May 30, 2022, when the team faced a 5-4 deficit heading to the ninth before winning 6-5 at Dodger Stadium.
A QUALITY PERFORMANCE: Luis Ortiz earned his second win of 2023 last night after allowing one run in a career-high 8.0 innings of work…Pittsburgh’s starting rotation has recorded 34 quality starts this season…That’s tied for the second-most among all National League teams along with the Cubs…The Padres are pacing the National League this season with 35 quality starts.
ABOUT TODAY’S STARTER: Osvaldo Bido gets the start this afternoon in game three of this series against the Marlins… Bido has made each of his first two big league starts against the Cubs…He had a no-decision (4.0ip/1r) in his big league debut on June 14 at Wrigley Field…He also allowed three runs in 6.0 innings while being charged with his first career loss against Chicago Monday night at PNC Park.
SHOW TIME: Nick Gonzales started at second base Friday night after being promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis prior to the game…Gonzales became the third Pirate in a week to make his big league debut and the seventh to do so this season.
PIRATING: Pittsburgh has won eight of its last 10 games when recording at least two stolen bases in a game, which included four Friday night against the Marlins (the team had a season-high six stolen bases on April 26 against the Dodgers)…Pittsburgh ranks fourth in all of MLB this season with 77 stolen bases, trailing only the Rays (96), Reds (82) and Athletics (78).
THE RENEGADE: David Bednar ranks fourth among all National League pitchers with 15 saves, trailing only Cincinnati’s Alexis Diaz (21), San Francisco’s Camilo Doval (21) and San Diego’s Josh Hader (18)… Bednar also ranks third among all National League relievers with a 1.61 ERA…The only two National League relievers with
a lower ERA are Josh Hader (1.26) and Daniel Bard (1.46).
CATCHING UP TO CARSON: Friday night Andrew McCutchen recorded two stolen bases in a game for the first time since June 10, 2022…McCutchen ranks 11th all-time in Pirates with 180 stolen bases, just two shy of tying Carson Bigbee for the 10th-most in team history.
ON THE MEND: First baseman/designated hitter Ji Man Choi went 1-for2 with a double in his first game on rehab Thursday night with Double-A Altoona…Choi, who is currently on the 60-day injured list with a left Achilles tendon strain, started and played five innings at first base.
YOUTH: Nick Gonzales became the 13th player age 24 or younger to appear in a game this season for the Pirates when he made his debut on Friday…That’s the most in all of MLB (Guardians have the second-most with ten)…Special thanks to the Elias Sports Bureau.
SMOOTH BY CARLOS SANTANA: Carlos Santana comes into today with the most Defensive Runs Saved (seven) among all first basemen according to FanGraphs…Texas’ Nathanie Lowe ranks second among all first basemen with six Defensive Runs Saved according to FanGraphs.
STARTING PITCHER – 70 – RHP OSVALDO BIDO
OSVALDO BIDO: The 27-year-old righthander will make his third big league start today after being promoted from Indianapolis on 6/14…He went 3-4 with a 4.55 ERA in 12 appearances (10 starts) this season at Indianapolis…Was signed by the Pirates as a non-drafted free agent on 3/15/17.
VS. MIAMI: Has never faced the Marlins.
MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today play the third of four games against the Pittsburgh Pirates, as the second leg of their sixth homestand of the year. Dropped the opening series vs. Toronto, 1-2. Following an off-day on Monday, Miami will play at Boston for three games from June 27-29, before heading to Atlanta for a three-game set from June 30-July 2.
FISH BYTES
- With a 14-7 record in June, Miami is tied for the 2nd-most wins in MLB this month, behind ATL, CIN, and SF (15).
- Miami ranks 3rd in the NL in win percentage at home (.590, 23-16) this season and is tied for 2nd in wins at home.
- Miami is now 100-116 all-time against Pittsburgh.
UP THE RANKS
At 43-34, Miami has its second-best start to a season through the club’s first 76 games in franchise history, behind the 1997 World Series team. See chart to right for the top starts.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
The Marlins suffered their first loss of the year when leading after eight innings (34-1), dropping the second game of the series vs. the Pirates, 3-1. A pair of singles to start the first inning for Miami from 2B Luis Arraez (3×4) and DH Jorge Soler (1×4) put runners on 1st and 2nd with no one out but there was only the lone run to show for it on an RBI-single from RF Jesus Sanchez (1×4). LHP Jesus Luzardo matched his career high with 7.0 scoreless innings, striking out 9 batters along the way. LHP A.J. Puk blew his 2nd save in his first 12 opportunities.
LA REGADERA
2B Luis Arraez leads MLB with his .402 AVG (106×267), .452 OBP, and 109 hits. Also leads MLB with 32 multi-hit games, including an MLB-most five 4+ hit games. Has struck out just 15 times in 299 PA (.050 K/PA), the lowest mark in MLB among qualifiers. Ranks 6th in MLB with his .939 OPS. Is the only player in the top 10 without at least 10 HR.
- His .402 AVG is the highest through a player’s first 71 games in club history.
- Arraez’s 32 multi-hit games prior to the All-Star break is the most by a Marlin since Dee Strange-Gordon had 32 in 2015. Miguel Cabrera owns the Marlins record, with 36 first-half multi-hit games in 2006.
- With his 3×4 effort last night, is batting .600 (18×30) with 1 home run and 17 singles in his last 7 games dating back to June 16 at Washington. His 1.325 OPS in this span is the 2nd-best mark in MLB (min. 20 AB) behind only CIN’s Elly De La Cruz (1.483).
HEY JUNE
With 6 games left to play this June, here are some records to keep an eye on:
- LHP Braxton Garrett has posted a 0.77 WHIP and 36 strikeouts in 4 June starts. The only two players to finish the month of June with a lower mark (min. 25.0 IP) were Jose Fernandez in 2016 (0.70) and Brad Penny in 2001 (0.73). 36 strikeouts in June is tied for the 5th-most in club history, with Jose Fernandez leading the pack (42 in 2016).
- The last time the Marlins had more than 15 wins in the month of June was 2009, when they had 17 wins. The club record for wins in the month of June was 18, set in 2006.
- Marlins starters set a club record with 154 strikeouts in June 2016 and currently sit at 136 this season.
OFF TO A GOOD START
- Marlins starters have held opponents to just 20 runs in the first inning this season, the fewest in MLB. Houston (21), Tampa Bay (23), Atlanta (24), and Detroit (26) round out the top 5.
- Starters have posted a 3.00 ERA this month, the fifth-best mark in MLB, and lead the Majors in strikeouts (136) and WHIP (0.93).
BABY GOAT
RHP Eury Perez lowered his ERA to 1.54 with his career-high matching 6.0 inning scoreless start on Tuesday night, good for the lowest in club history through a player’s first 8 career starts. RHP Josh Beckett previously held the record, with a 2.03 ERA (48.2/11) in his first 8 starts in 2001. Perez is the 9th pitcher in the Expansion Era (since 1961) to post an ERA of 1.60 or lower through 8 career starts.
- His 1.54 ERA is the third-lowest for a pitcher Eury’s age or younger (20-066) through his first 8 career starts since 1913, when ERA became an official MLB statistic, trailing only Jack Bentley’s 1.11 ERA from 1913-14 and Frank Shellenback’s 1.41 ERA in 1918 (credit: Elias).
- Among NL rookie pitchers this season (min. 30.0 IP), Perez owns the lowest ERA and ranks second in wins (4).
- Has allowed just 1 ER over his last 5 starts (27.0 IP), the best mark in MLB over this span.
TODAY’S STARTER – #78 BRYAN HOENIG
- Bryan Jerome Hoeing, 26, will make his fifth career start and first appearance against Pittsburgh today. Marks his fourth start (18th app.) of season.
- In last start vs. Toronto on June 19, tossed a career-high 5 strikeouts in 4.0 innings, allowing 0 runs on 3 hits. In 4 career starts has gone 0-2 with a 7.47 ERA (15.2/13) on 22 hits, 4 walks, and 13 strikeouts.
- In 14 relief apps. this season has gone 1-0 with a 1.56 ERA (17.1/3) and has allowed 15 hits on 16 strikeouts.
- Is 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA (12.2/6 ER) in 3 starts this season, allowing 14 hits and 3 walks with 11 strikeouts.
- In 13 career home games (2 GS), has a 1-0 record with a 4.38 ERA (24.2/12) and has allowed 25 hits on 21 strikeouts. In 12 away games (2 GS), has gone 1-2 with a 7.00 ERA (18.0/14) and has allowed 23 hits on 12 strikeouts.
- In 2023 vs. LHP: .205 AVG (8×39), 2 2B, 0 HR, and .560 OPS. vs. RHB: .284 AVG (21×74), 6 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, and .798 OPS.
- Ranked by MLB Pipeline as Miami’s No. 30 prospect prior to the 2022 season, made Major League debut and first career start on Aug. 20 at LAD. In 8 apps. (1 start), went 1-1 with 12.08 ERA (12.2 IP/17 ER).
- In 22 Minor League appearances (21 starts) between Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Jacksonville during the 2022 season, combined to go 9-6 with a 4.06 ERA (119.2 IP/54 ER) with 39 walks and 75 strikeouts.
