On Wednesday afternoon, San Francisco‘s Robbie Ray will take the mound against Pittsburgh’s Andrew Heaney as the Giants and Pirates meet for the decisive game in their three-game series. This Robbie Ray Giants Pirates matchup features two experienced left-handers and offers the Giants a chance to build on recent success while confronting a hot Pirates squad.
Ray looks to extend strong pitching form
Robbie Ray, who holds a 9-5 record with a 2.85 ERA this season, is coming off one of the best outings of his second All-Star season. In his latest start last Friday against the New York Mets, Ray pitched seven innings, giving up only one run on four hits and one walk while striking out six. The lone run came from a solo home run by Pete Alonso. Despite Ray’s performance, he left the game without a decision as the Giants‘ bullpen, which recently lost key relievers Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers to trades, gave up a two-run lead in the eighth before the team eventually won in 10 innings.
Ray is searching for his first win since July 3 as he faces a Pirates team that has surged with 10 wins in their last 14 contests. The left-hander did not pitch during the Pirates’ recent three-game sweep of the Giants in San Francisco. Historically, Ray is 2-2 with a 4.78 ERA over six starts against Pittsburgh. He remains optimistic about the Giants’ postseason chances despite setbacks.
We got ourselves in this situation, but we still have the big pieces that we brought in,
Ray said on Friday.
We didn’t do a major overhaul. This team is still good enough to win.
—Robbie Ray, Giants pitcher
Giants aim to sustain offensive momentum
San Francisco has won three of its last five games, returning to a .500 record. Their latest outing on Tuesday demonstrated a strong offensive showing, as they amassed 11 hits in an 8-1 victory over the Pirates—their first win in five meetings with Pittsburgh this year. Notably, every batter in the Giants‘ lineup recorded a hit in that game. Maintaining this offensive energy will be key as they prepare to face Andrew Heaney.
Heaney seeks rebound after recent struggles
Pittsburgh’s Andrew Heaney brings a 5-9 record and a 4.89 ERA into this matchup, having allowed the highest number of earned runs (60) and home runs (21) among Pirates pitchers this season. Following a difficult outing against the Colorado Rockies last Friday, where he lasted only slightly over three innings and gave up four runs, Heaney will look to improve against the Giants.
That challenging game sparked one of the Rockies’ most remarkable comebacks, with Colorado coming back from a 9-0 first-inning deficit to win 17-16. However, Heaney showed promise in his previous home start on July 26, allowing just two hits over five scoreless innings as the Pirates beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-0.
Heaney, who also fasted during trade deadline discussions, did not pitch in the recent series against the Giants. His career record against San Francisco is 1-4 with a 5.84 ERA in eight starts, underscoring the challenge he faces in this key matchup.
Yeah, just watching him work every day and the way he goes about it, seeing the way he’s been able to add arm slots, change speeds, mix things up, and just the way he’s been able to bounce back from tougher outings so to speak.
—Don Kelly, Pirates manager
Player matchups highlight continued rivalry
Several Giants hitters have experienced success against Heaney, with four players having hit home runs against him, including infielder Willy Adames, who has two homers in 18 career at-bats. On the Pirates side, Andrew McCutchen has been notably effective against Ray, boasting a .333 batting average (7-for-21) with two home runs and three RBIs.
Looking ahead for both teams
This Robbie Ray Giants Pirates matchup represents a crucial opportunity for the Giants to keep their playoff hopes alive by building on their recent positive performances. With Ray pitching well and the offense showing life, San Francisco will try to overcome a Pirates team that has found strong form and boasts a solid recent winning record. For Pittsburgh, Heaney’s ability to bounce back will be a key factor in the game’s outcome, as both teams vie to claim the series finale and gain momentum for the remainder of the season.