The Pittsburgh Pirates (20-27) take on the Los Angeles Dodgers (33-15) in game two of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night, with a 10:10 PM first pitch. Mitch Keller (1-5, 6.05) will be getting the start for the Pirates. It is his eight start of the season, but his first since May 13th. In two relief outings in between, he allowed two runs over six innings. The Dodgers are countering with lefty Julio Urias (3-4, 2.49), who is making his tenth start. He gave up two runs on 11 hits in six innings versus the Pirates on May 9th.
Here are the lineups:
Pirates
Mitch on the mound.#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/LFQjtojCMb
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 31, 2022
Dodgers
+ posts#Dodgers Lineup 05/31/22
1. Mookie Betts RF
2. Freddie Freeman 1B
3. Trea Turner SS
4. Will Smith C
5. Edwin Rios DH
6. Justin Turner 3B
7. Chris Taylor CF
8. Gavin Lux 2B
9. Kevin Pillar LFStarting Pitcher : Julio Urias
— Daily MLB Lineups (@DailyMLBLineup) May 31, 2022
John started working at Pirates Prospects in 2009, but his connection to the Pittsburgh Pirates started exactly 100 years earlier when Dots Miller debuted for the 1909 World Series champions. John was born in Kearny, NJ, two blocks from the house where Dots Miller grew up. From that hometown hero connection came a love of Pirates history, as well as the sport of baseball.
When he didn't make it as a lefty pitcher with an 80+ MPH fastball and a slider that needed work, John turned to covering the game, eventually focusing in on the prospects side, where his interest was pushed by the big league team being below .500 for so long. John has covered the minors in some form since the 2002 season, and leads the draft and international coverage on Pirates Prospects. He writes daily on Pittsburgh Baseball History, when he's not covering the entire system daily throughout the entire year on Pirates Prospects.
Catching position batting .500 in last two games!,!
😜
Well we are the best MLB team in Pennsylvania, baby steps🤷♂️😂
I believe the bucs have the 19th best Win % currently. Love to see teams like the Phils who go out & spend tons in the offseason struggle
I really like Chavis’ bat. Attacks pitches in the zone with conviction. Not necessarily the best eye, but certainly not the worst either. However, he is truly bad at reading balls off the bat. He should’ve gone 1st to 3rd on Castillo single in 3rd, and would’ve scored easily on Castro’s single, if he was even modestly capable as a base runner. Instead he gets stranded at 3rd after Chang & Suwinski strikeout.
Lucky for us his failures as a base runner didn’t cost Pirates the game.
Crazy road trip–with a few bounces/luck either way, we could be 0-5 or 5-0. If we sweep the Dodgers today, which may be a first for Shelton (at least we know he went like 0-15 last year in sweep attempts), I’m inclined to refrain from criticizing Shelton for the rest of the month (which will be tough since it’s June 1).
I know he’s not Jim Leyland but the team seems to be playing hard for him and is doing an ok job with a crappy roster.
I agree they’re playing hard. I credit that to us having a bunch of young guys and post-prospects trying to get established in the majors–they would play hard for anyone.
I also think the roster isn’t as crappy as their record the past two years suggests, which gets back to my concerns with the coaching.
A month?!!! Might buy me a few days, but even that’s a stretch.
Might not be realistic, but in any case I’m sure there will be plenty of others pointing out his problems (like where is Yerry?) and I can simply Like the appropriate comments 🙂
Yes, sure you can read the repetitive neverending complaints against Shelton, to give you your fill, during your sabbatical🤣🤣… i peruse the game log daily, i can tell you todays game comments already win or lose🤣🤣
If I see Chang in the lineup ever again, I’m going to vomit.
Get the puke bag ready, because I’m fairly certain he’s going to be a semi-regular for the foreseeable future.
When we acquired Chavis at last year’s deadline he had a .549 OPS with Boston and was even worse in June and July (.402 OPS!). He went 0-4 in his first game with us. Now he’s our best hitter, so you never know.
Yup, of course, patience..
I give Shelton credit for how he handled the bullpen. I was ready to call it a night once he turned to Beede (who hasn’t pitched since the blowout loss to St. Louis last Sunday), but they were able to hold it together.
Keller wasn’t great tonight, but I saw more promise out of him tonight than I’ve seen in a long time. I think they referred to him as “wildly effective” during the broadcast tonight, which was accurate.
Crowe continues to impress. I know he’s shown capable of pitching in most situations, but I wouldn’t mind seeing him settle into a setup role for Bednar.
I give Shelton credit for getting lucky with a couple of relief pitchers who haven’t done well lately and will be bad again as soon as the Pirates leave Disneyland. I’m always happy when they win but just like Marcano and VanMeter won’t hit 25 home runs Underdog and Beede won’t hold many leads.
PS, what’s the story with Marcano on D? I know he was playing OF a bunch this year but is his D at SS bad? Bad arm? Bad range? I figured he’s sort of like Bae where he can float but just wondering.
I think he’s better than Castillo and Castro there, Castillo has good hands, but an average arm at best. Marcano’s problem is power, hopefully he’ll turn a page there and becomes average.
This was the “I’m not dead yet” game between Marcano, Chavis, Keller, Crowe all trying to revive former expectations.
Chavis is a good interview. Spot on.
We’re Dangerous!
WE ARE THEIR DADDY!!! Raise it!
Nice wheels Jack! One more to get
I’m only sure about two things on this team, Marcano needs to be in the lineup and Castro needs to be in the minors.
I’m on board for Stratton in 8th and Yerry 9th.
So far according to Brownie it’s two innings for Stratton. That’s fine if you want to to do it but why do you have a 24 year old sitting for weeks not pitching. Send him back to Indy where he had outstanding numbers in relief!
definition of faith: thinking hitting coach Andy Haines who has a roster of sub .200 hitters can help a new addition fix his 70% strikeout rate.
Yu Chang Fan.
Dodgers are 8-3 this year vs NLC. 7-0 vs Cubs/Reds and 1-3 vs Pirates. Worst Dodgers have done vs any team. Must be driving them nuts.
Even more amazing is how the Dodgers are doing this year against us when they’ve absolutely dominated us the last few years (23-2 in 2017-2021).
We were 5-2 against them in 2016 when they won the West and we had a losing record so it’s not like it means much in the big picture. And of course when we won 2 or 3 against them in PNC we went on to lose the next two to the Reds by a combined score of 12-2. But it’s still fun!
Make it 1-4.
Baseball is weird.
Do you suppose someone should tell these Pirate announcers that a batter cannot run after a dropped third strike with first base occupied and less than two outs? As far as I can tell unless I missed it, they never did figure it out or maybe they were just too busy talking to notice. Whatever, it sure is good to have these experts telling us what’s going on.
Maybe it’s the time difference, maybe he’s losing it, maybe it’s hard to call a game when you think your primary responsibility is promoting the manager and front office, but Brown has had a rough road trip. Because of the lateness I haven’t even watched all the games but he’s made more mistakes in five games than I recall him making in a month of games.
Early on set of dementia. Like the 3rd strike pass ball rule, he had no idea what was going on. If you’ve called 2000+ ball games in your life and you don’t recognize that play, you need medical care.
I hope it’s not that but he’s been off his game. He also lost me as a fan of his, at least temporarily, after he went on and on the other night about Shelton’s transparency, willingness to take responsibility, and answer the tough questions that Brown asks. For one, Brown doesn’t ask tough questions–it’s all propaganda. He told us repeatedly in April 2021 about how there was a new energy and the ’21 team was going to surprise people…then again this year. There’s never any follow-up as to what happened in ’21 or what’s happening this year (this road trip notwithstanding but instead noting that our Pythagorean record is 16-32). For two, not once have I seen Shelton take responsibility for their poor play. It’s always a failure of players to execute, never the possibility that players aren’t being put in the best positions to succeed. So, let a lefty who has never hit lefty pitching bat in a high leverage situation, play a guy at a position he’s rarely or never played and then lose because of an error, not use a reliever for a week and then need him in a close game because you’ve overused the rest of the pen, … and then when we lose simply say the players didn’t execute.
On the chance we win tonight when we actually have a favorable pitching matchup for the first time this series, I need to get out my critiques of Shelton today 🙂
Really nice route pivot and peg by Jack!
Not that I mind Beede coming out, but you put him into a close game, he gets two strikeouts and only allows a run on a PB, so you take him out in order to get a righty-on-righty matchup that you already have? If Beede was good enough to go in to begin with, why isn’t he good enough to stay in after getting two Ks?
I’ll say it, Shelton is terrible at his job!
What did Casey say, “If you don’t have a catcher, the ball keeps going to the backstop.”
What a horrific decision to let Beede pitch here
When is it a good decision to let Beede pitch? I guess maybe if the Pirates are leading 10-1, you might go with him to save other arms.
I legitimately had to look up when he pitched last because I forgot he was still on the team
Wow, this Tyler Beede guy looks like a great pickup, lol. Is it the Pirate fascination with guys named Tyler.
Why on earth would you put Beede in? Oh, yeah, 5.49 lifetime ERA, terrible since he came to Pgh. Perfect.
That’s what happens when you pitch Bednar and Stratton for two innings.
Pitching Stratton for more than one inning is never a good idea. At one time it was but no longer.
Really think Suwinski will be one of those guys where the next time he’s called up he’ll be good to go.
Two DOTS with that sinker to end the outing. Good for him, maybe the sinker will unlock something for him like it did Morton (but we won’t make everyone use it and mess up as many as they fix like we saw under NH).
Keller you nasty with that sinker!!!!
I respect what Marcano has done in the last month, I really do, but Pirates Twitter is setting itself up for heartbreak.
His first HR was 102.6 MPH, HR in 15/30 parks. His second was 102 MPH, HR in ONLY Dodgers stadium.
Already got people going crazy about having “serious pop”.
Both shots were over 400 ft. They were hit hard with the right trajectory. So they’re doubles at other parks…….no complaints.
Exactly. They were both hard shots and extra bases. That is what is important.
That’s fine. I just won’t be surprised if we start seeing “20+ HR potential” tweets after this series.
I haven’t watched him like you have, but might he hit 8 or 9 a year? But he is only 22. Betts is a small guy and look at his pop. I understand the Twitter excitement!
I’m just saying it might behoove people to temper expectations
He could possibly manage 10+ if he’s hot in the right parks, like Newman in 2019 lol
Betts is small, but Betts has max EVs of 109+ and avg EV of 90+. If Marcano can see those numbers, or get close to a league avg EV, I’ll be a believer. But if 102 is him “barrelling” it, I’ll just mention Cole Tucker, Newman, and Frazier all have hit harder.
Well, he has a long way to go to that many at bats.
Most of us realize that he will be back down sooner than later so we’re just enjoying what we can while we can, lol.
I wouldn’t expect Dodgers Stadium CF to be the only one it gets out of but good to know.
Unicorn lol
https://twitter.com/would_it_dong/status/1531828136375033857?t=xA3xHQ5f6_6Xpj_Flv9ulg&s=19
It’s tough to make me miss Kevin Newman but Castro has managed to do it.
That’s the brilliance of them making us watch the Castro shitshow at ss every game. It’s designed to make us want Newman back, lol.
He’s a backup playing out of position, over expose. Blame management for setting him up for failure.
I think it’s so people don’t focus on Cruz’s defense too much, when they finally call him up lol
That’s probably the closest to reality since they played together the last couple of years and before Cruz came on board Castro played ss.
Can Chavis please play every day? The guy atleast hits the ball hard consistently
Keep Mitch away from Turner and this might shake out alright
Pirates better score some more runs because they are going to need a comfortable lead in the 9th.
Ya, gotta scratch a few more out
As of now if these are going to be the catchers then Heineman has to be the starter!
Lol, great bunt!
Can they please end the Mitch Keller experiment already. I just can’r stand the fact that he can never challenge hitters and looks like he has ZERO confidence in his stuff. He needs to go!
This is already lost season. Let’s stick with him and hope he gains that confidence with us instead of with his next team.
Yes. Any chance this team has to be good in 22 or 23 is because Mitch Keller gets more consistent and turns into a really good pitcher. He needs to be out there starting every fifth day until the middle of 2023, at that point you can move him to the bullpen or trade him if he is still not good at starting.
This being a lost season is why Shelton having Bednar throw 50 pitches last night was managerial malpractice in the worst way.
Like I said. He was supposed to be an opener. He can’t face an MLB lineup a second time through
63 pitches, 33 strikes. That should work well against LA.
don’t worry Shelton’s got this he’ll keep it close till it’s time for Bednar……oh wait
Today Bednar goes five innings.
That would be brilliant by Shelton!
My goodness, can Chang really be this bad? He’s been up 13 times this year and struck out 10? He has to be better than that doesn’t he?
Hes terrible. A dumb pickup. Whiff machine. 100 other options than that chump.
Yu Swing is doing his thing.
He’s been in a slump for about a year.
Me too but that’s a story for another time😆
Just a year? You got me beat.
Yes and no!
Oof, 3 straight fastballs down the middle to get Jack.
That didn’t look good. He hasn’t looked overmatched too often but he has tonight against Urias.
Yikes
of all the times we’ve tried, I think MIchael Chavis is the first time a failed top prospect has come here and actually turned it around in his career
Other than the 3 months Travis Snider caught on fire, yeah, that’s about it.
You don’t think Yu will give us a Grand Salami, do ya?
No, lol.
No…….
Chang is picking up where he left off in Cleveland. 12 ABs this year, 9 Ks.
Haines will have him hitting .180 before too long.
Old clique but they ‘really’ must be throwing darts to make these waiver claims.
Let’s Gooooo!!!
Or not
Welp, Keller actually pitched his way out of the hit batsmen and no damage. That is different from past outings.
Please tell me Keller’s the opener for somebody else. He’s not going back out there to face the lineup a second time, is he?
Thank you, Pillar!
I don’t know how this will post but here is Dodgers GameDay forum magic.
Poor guys, they don’t know how to lose.
“Pirates are our daddy”
I suppose it’s too much to hope that the Dodgers will be the only team that can’t hit Keller.
Hitting guys with a 1-2 count usually doesn’t end well for Keller!
I don’t know what excites me more…..the Hrs or our catchers on a 3-game hitting streak!
Suwinski and Marcano for Adam Frazier? That’s looking like a pretty lopsided trade
Some lunatic used to chant: extend Frazier over and over….
I haven’t looked to see how Frazier is doing this season.
Lol, was that you or me?
Tucapito, new and improve, now with more power!
I really really like this kid Tucu!!!