This is the opener of a three-game series in Pittsburgh between the Pirates and visiting Chicago White Sox.
Jonathan Cannon is scheduled to pitch for Chicago while Bailey Falter will likely get the nod for Pittsburgh.
White Sox at Pirates prediction, preview
Jonathan Cannon doesn’t miss bats and allows hard contact. Not great, Bob. That said, while the numbers aren’t great, they are not awful either. I’ve definitely seen worse. The ERA is 4.44 while the FIP is 4.85. The K-BB% is only 9.4%, the swinging strike rate is 8.3% and the chase rate is 25.8%. Like I said, it’s not great but not terrible, either. Cannon’s barrel rate is 9.7% and the hard hit rate is 44.5%. In 77 innings, Cannon has allowed 12 home runs.
Cannon has been able to strike out lefties at a higher rate, but he’s also allowed more home runs to them. The strikeout rate is better at home, but the control is better on the road.
Cannon has allowed more than three earned runs four times this season. He’s pitched over five innings five times, but the last time came way back in mid-May. In his two most recent starts, Cannon pitched five innings and allowed two earned runs in both. One of those starts was at Coors Field. This will be the first time facing the Pirates this season.
Against right-handed pitching, the Pirates have struck out at the seventh-highest rate while having the worst ISO. The wOBA is 29th-best in MLB.
Bailey Falter is sporting a 3.79 ERA in 97.1 innings. The BABIP is only .240 while the FIP is 4.82. The lefty averages 92.2 mph on the fastball and has a 14.9% strikeout rate with a 7.4% swinging strike rate. The hard hit rate is 45.8%.
Righties have hit 11 of the 14 home runs while 10 of those home runs have been served up on the road.
Falter has allowed more than three earned runs three times this season. He hasn’t gone six innings or more in a start since May 31st. He’s allowed exactly three earned runs in four of his last five starts. This will be the first time facing the White Sox this season.
The White Sox have struck out at the third-highest rate against left-handed pitching while being 11th in ISO. The wOBA is 21st-best.
As for bullpens, Chicago has the 24th-lowest FIP while Pittsburgh has the 14th-lowest.
White Sox at Pirates pick, best bet
I have no faith in either pitcher but I also have no faith in either offense. This is a conundrum of extraordinary magnitude. This is like walking up to a craps table and seeing a guy with absolutely no confidence or aura pick up the dice. Don’t pass, we’re taking the under in this one.
