Justin Verlander will aim to capitalize on ending his personal losing streak as he prepares to pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night, while the San Francisco Giants are in the midst of their own four-game losing run. This Justin Verlander Giants Pirates matchup carries importance as both teams seek to change momentum in a tightly contested series at the Giants’ home stadium.

Pirates’ Momentum Fueled by McCutchen’s Big Hit

The Pirates started the series strongly, with Andrew McCutchen delivering a pivotal performance in Monday’s 6-5 victory. McCutchen’s two-run home run in the seventh inning broke a tie and helped Pittsburgh secure their sixth win in seven games, highlighting the team’s recent surge. The Pirates’ winning form has added pressure on the Giants and Verlander as they look to rebound.

Verlander’s Recent Performance and Career History Against Pittsburgh

Verlander entered the season winless in 16 starts for the Giants but finally recorded a victory last Wednesday in Atlanta, allowing only one hit through five shutout innings in a 9-3 win. Despite his 1-8 record and 4.70 ERA, Verlander has shown consistency, giving up two or fewer earned runs in nine games this season. He acknowledged his team‘s offensive support after the Atlanta win.

It’s nice to have run support,

Verlander said.

It comes and goes. It’s never something that I fault the team for. I know that they’re trying just as much, if not more. I know those guys were really grinding. On occasion when they go out and score a bunch, it’s nice.

—Justin Verlander, Pitcher

This Tuesday’s start will mark Verlander’s ninth career outing against the Pirates and the first since 2017. He holds a favorable 5-2 record with a 3.51 ERA in previous matchups against Pittsburgh, which adds a historical edge to the game.

Bailey Falter Aims to Halt Verlander’s Win Streak

The Pirates will counter with left-hander Bailey Falter, who owns a 7-5 record and a 3.82 ERA this season. Falter is aiming to match his career-high win total from last year, when he finished 8-9. He showed promise in his recent start against the Detroit Tigers, allowing just one run over seven innings in a 6-1 victory.

Though Falter has faced the Giants twice before, he has yet to start against them, carrying a 0-1 record with a 1.23 ERA in those appearances.

Teams Rely on Starters as Bullpens Face Strain

Both teams will depend heavily on their starting pitchers to last deep into Tuesday’s game due to recent heavy bullpen usage. Pittsburgh’s relievers threw five separate innings during the tense win on Monday, and the Giants used a combined four innings from Carson Seymour and Camilo Doval in their bullpen-heavy relief strategy on Sunday.

Bednar’s Role and Trade Rumors Highlight Pirates’ Situation

Pirates closer David Bednar, who secured his 17th save Monday, remains a key component of Pittsburgh’s pitching staff amid ongoing trade speculation as the MLB deadline approaches. General manager Ben Cherington emphasized caution regarding trade rumors, signaling a reluctance to part with pitching resources.

I think we want to be careful about it, because you have pitching depth until you don’t,

Cherington said.

It’s hard to get it back. We’re not anxious to trade pitching.

—Ben Cherington, Pittsburgh Pirates GM

During their recent winning streak, the Pirates’ bullpen has been exceptionally effective, allowing just five earned runs across 27 innings. Bednar’s performance has been especially solid, conceding only one run over five one-inning appearances during this stretch.

Significance of the Matchup and Looking Ahead

This Justin Verlander Giants Pirates matchup is pivotal for both squads as they battle to reverse challenging stretches. Verlander’s role is crucial given his attempts to replicate past success against Pittsburgh, while Falter seeks to maintain momentum for the Pirates. The ability of starting pitchers to minimize reliance on fatigued bullpens could strongly influence the series outcome.

The result will not only affect the short-term momentum for these National League teams but also has potential implications for bullpen management and player decisions as the MLB trade deadline nears.