Chi. White Sox White Sox vs Pittsburgh Pirates Picks and Predictions July 13th 2024

Pirates Look to Dominate Struggling White Sox

The Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to capitalize on the Chicago White Sox‘s poor performance this season. With Pittsburgh’s right-hander Luis L. Ortiz making his second consecutive start, the Pirates aim to secure a road series win against the White Sox.

Luis L. Ortiz: Shuttling Between Roles

Luis L. Ortiz has navigated between the bullpen and the rotation this season. Despite the transitions, Ortiz maintains a positive outlook.

“Oh, for sure it feels good to have that opportunity to start,” Ortiz said via an interpreter. “But like I said … it doesn’t matter where I pitch. Every opportunity, doesn’t matter what inning, start, the middle, I’m just going to take advantage of the opportunities.”

Recent Performance and Strategy

Ortiz (4-2, 2.95 ERA) is falling off a great trip against the New York Mets, where he pitched six shutout innings. His attention stays on expanding on this accomplishment as he gets ready to confront the White Sox.

In the series opener, Marco Gonzales, enacted from the 60-day harmed list, furnished a strong execution with five innings of one-run ball, adding to Pittsburgh’s 4-1 triumph.

Ke’Bryan Hayes and David Bednar also played crucial roles. Hayes had two hits and an RBI, while Bednar, recently off the 15-day IL, secured his 17th save with a perfect ninth inning.

“That’s what you want to see is good timely hitting, good plays on defense and we throw strikes and keep guys off bases,” Bednar said. “Good things happen.”

Pirates’ Winning Momentum

The Pirates have won four of their last five games, while the White Sox have lost five of their last six. Despite Luis Robert Jr.’s early RBI single and Paul DeJong’s two hits, the White Sox struggled with runners in scoring position, batting just 2-for-8.

Garrett Crochet, an All-Star lefty, gave the White Sox an initial boost with two perfect innings and four strikeouts before exiting the game. However, Pittsburgh capitalized on Crochet’s departure.

“When Crochet came out, it gave us extra momentum,” said Pittsburgh’s Jared Triolo, who hit an RBI single against Jonathan Cannon in the fifth inning.

White Sox’s Struggles Continue

The White Sox, with the most horrendously terrible record in baseball at 27-69, have lost eight of their last 11 games since June 30. They are desperate to try not to lose their last four series before the All-Star break.

Chris Flexen: The White Sox’s Expectation

Right-hander Chris Flexen (2-7, 4.95 ERA) is set to start for Chicago. After an unpleasant excursion against Cleveland, where he allowed six runs (three procured) in six innings, Flexen showed improvement against the Minnesota Twins, surrendering only two runs in six innings.

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Flexen has restricted insight against Pittsburgh, having made a solitary help appearance for the Seattle Sailors on May 26, 2023, where he allowed one run in two innings.

Ortiz’s Interleague Play

Ortiz has not confronted the White Sox in his profession. Notwithstanding, he has a 2-3 record with a 3.76 ERA in 15 vocation interleague appearances, including five starts.

The Pirates are hopeful about their possibilities against a striving White Sox group. With Ortiz’s new structure and the group’s overall momentum, Pittsburgh means to get a significant series win out and about.