Pirates End Season on Low Note; Yankees Turn to Schmidt for Finale
Pirates Wrap Up Season; Yankees Rely on Schmidt in Sunday Showdown
As the 2024 MLB season comes to a close, the Pittsburgh Pirates (75-85) face the New York Yankees (93-67) in a Sunday showdown at Yankee Stadium. After a 4-2 victory on Friday, the Pirates are looking to end on a high note, while the Yankees seek to solidify their playoff positioning.
Pirates Look to Conclude Season Strong
The Pirates are set to send Bailey Falter to the mound for the season finale. Falter‘s recent performance against the Brewers was less than stellar, allowing four runs over five innings in a loss. However, he has shown some resilience this month with a 3.52 ERA, despite an overall mediocre season featuring a 4.26 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP across 139.1 innings. Notably, Falter has never faced the Yankees in his career, adding an element of unpredictability to this matchup.
This season has been a struggle for the Pirates, who have seen limited improvement despite a roster filled with promising young talent. They have lost four of their last five series, and in a recent series against the Brewers, they scored just six runs while conceding 13. Their away record stands at a disappointing seven games under .500, highlighting their difficulties on the road.
Bryan Reynolds has been a standout player for Pittsburgh, driving in 14 RBIs this month and totaling 24 home runs and 88 RBIs with a .795 OPS for the season. He shone in the series opener against the Yankees, collecting three RBIs. However, the Pirates’ overall offensive output remains lackluster, averaging only 4.10 runs per game, which ranks them 24th in MLB. Their pitching staff has a collective ERA of 4.15, placing them 20th overall.
Yankees Turn to Schmidt in Season Finale
On the other side, the Yankees will hand the ball to Clarke Schmidt, who has been a reliable option this month, posting a 2.61 ERA. In his previous outing against the Orioles, Schmidt went 5.1 innings, allowing three runs but did not earn a decision. Overall, he carries a strong 2.55 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP with a 5-5 record over 81.1 innings this season. Like Falter, this will be Schmidt’s first matchup against the Pirates.
The Yankees have had a mixed bag of performances lately, especially after a tough series against the Orioles where they dropped two of three games. Despite plating 20 runs in that series, they also surrendered 15 runs. Nevertheless, they secured the AL East title this week and currently hold a slim lead over the Guardians for the best record in the American League, sitting seven games above .500 at home.
Giancarlo Stanton has been heating up at the plate, collecting eight RBIs over his last eight games, bringing his season totals to 27 home runs, 72 RBIs, and a .781 OPS. Last season against the Pirates, Stanton struggled, posting a meager .548 OPS. The Yankees boast two players, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, who have each surpassed 100 RBIs this season.
New York’s offense is formidable, averaging 5.02 runs per game, ranking them third in MLB. Their pitching staff, highlighted by Schmidt’s contributions, boasts a 3.71 ERA, placing them seventh overall.
Conclusion
As the Pirates look to end a disappointing season on a high note, and the Yankees aim to solidify their playoff push, Sunday’s game promises to be an intriguing finale. With Falter and Schmidt on the mound, fans can expect a competitive matchup that showcases the contrasting trajectories of these two historic franchises.
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