Pittsburgh Pirates vs San Francisco Giants Picks and Predictions May 22nd 2024

Giants’ Blake Snell to Return from IL to Face Pirates

The San Francisco Giants are eagerly awaiting the return of their starting pitcher, Blake Snell. His first two months with the team have been rocky, filled with injuries and less-than-stellar performances. But now, the two-time Cy Young award winner is ready to make a comeback as he takes the mound against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday evening.

Tuesday’s series opener was a nail-biter, with the Pirates pulling off a dramatic 7-6 victory in 10 innings. They scored four runs in the ninth inning to tie the game, and Nick Gonzales’ walk-off single in the 10th sealed the win. This improved Pittsburgh’s record in extra-inning games to 5-1, while Giants’ closer Camilo Doval experienced his first blown save of the season.

“You bring (Doval) in with the score 6-2 and you feel pretty good about your chances,” said San Francisco manager Bob Melvin. “They got some hits off him, and that rarely happens.”

Blake Snell’s Return and Performance Outlook

Blake Snell (0-3, 11.57 ERA) is set to be activated from the injured list before Wednesday’s game, coming back from a left adductor strain that’s kept him out since April 19. Snell’s start to the season with the Giants included three disappointing outings. However, his recent rehab starts were stellar, as he threw nine hitless innings and struck out 17 batters while pitching for Single-A San Jose and Triple-A Sacramento.

“He came into (the season) really excited. It didn’t go as he planned,” said Giants pitcher Logan Webb. “I think he’s more (ticked) off about it than anybody. You can see with him coming back, the way he’s throwing in the minor leagues, he’s ready to go. I’m excited for it. He’s excited for it.”

Historically, Snell has struggled against Pittsburgh, with a career record of 1-2 and a 6.11 ERA in four starts. His performances at PNC Park have been particularly challenging, with an 0-2 record and an 8.49 ERA in three outings.

Pittsburgh’s Pitching and Offensive Prospects

The Pirates will counter with right-hander Jared Jones (3-4, 2.89 ERA), who has shown consistency in his rookie season. Jones has pitched at least five innings and allowed three runs or less in each of his first nine career starts. In his latest outing, he gave up three runs and struck out seven over six innings in a 5-4 win against the Chicago Cubs.

“His slider, when it’s going, it bottoms out,” said Pirates catcher Yasmani Grandal. “It kind of looks like a fastball. It’s pretty hard to hit. When it stays up, it kind of acts like a cutter. It’s pick your poison to see which one you want to hit.”

Jones is set to make his second start against San Francisco this season. In their previous encounter on April 28, he allowed three runs over five innings in a 3-2 loss.

The Pirates’ offense could see a boost from utilityman Ji Hwan Bae, who was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis and started in center field on Tuesday. Bae led the International League with a .367 average, four home runs, and 15 RBIs, alongside seven stolen bases in 27 games.

“There’s been adjustments made to the setup, load, things that we talked about in spring training but just weren’t able to do because he didn’t play very much,” said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. “Then he went down to Triple-A, I mean, he’s leading the International League in hitting, and proving that he deserved an opportunity to be up here.”

Conclusion and Game Anticipation

With Blake Snell’s return and Jared Jones’ continued strong performances, the upcoming game between the Giants and Pirates promises to be a thrilling matchup. Both teams are looking to capitalize on their strengths and address their weaknesses as they continue their series. Fans will be watching closely to see if Snell can bounce back and if the Pirates can maintain their momentum.