The upcoming series between the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates might not have the usual level of thrill for the Pirates, given the Yankees’ somewhat underwhelming performance in this baseball season.
Even the storied Yankees-Boston Red Sox rivalry, which recently concluded, lacked its typical fervor, as both clubs currently find themselves at the bottom of the American League East standings.
However, there’s still plenty at stake as both the Yankees (74-73) and the Pirates (69-78) are making a late-season push to finish on a high note.
New York has been on an upswing, winning four of its last five games and 12 of its last 17. They recently split a doubleheader against Boston, with the Yankees securing an 8-5 victory in the nightcap, fueled by Aaron Judge’s grand slam.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Judge’s commitment to winning, stating, “He’s all about winning at the end of the day.”
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has also shown signs of improvement, winning 10 of its last 15 games. Pirates outfielder Jack Suwinski, who hit his 25th homer in a recent 2-0 win over Washington, emphasized their commitment to playing hard and with effort, reflecting their team-oriented approach.
Pittsburgh’s success was evident in their recent four-game series against the Nationals, where they won the final three games, demonstrating resilience and a strong team spirit.
In the series opener, New York will send former Pirates starter Gerrit Cole (13-4, 2.79 ERA) to the mound, pitting him against Pittsburgh’s Johan Oviedo (8-14, 4.34 ERA).
Cole, who is undeniably a Cy Young Award candidate, has been a standout performer for the Yankees this season. He boasts the best ERA in the American League and is known for his exceptional pitching prowess.
On the other hand, Oviedo, who has never faced the Yankees before, has shown promise in recent starts, with a 5-3 record and a 3.40 ERA over his past nine outings. However, he aims to rebound after two shorter outings in his last starts, where he allowed a total of six runs.
In a recent game against the Atlanta Braves, Oviedo found himself at the center of a brief benches-clearing incident after throwing inside on Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. Oviedo remained resolute in his approach, emphasizing his focus on the game and not getting provoked by external factors.
As the Yankees and Pirates square off, both teams will be looking to continue their recent successes and finish the season on a high note, despite the challenges they have faced along the way.
