Pirates strive for respectability as they go for a sweep in Anaheim

Chris Archer (3-8, 5.23) will be looking to lead the Pirates to a three game sweep of the Angels as he takes the mound in Anaheim in a game scheduled to start at 8:07 p.m. Eastern. He’ll be opposed by Angels’ left-hander Dillon Peters (2-1, 3.45)

The Pirates arrived in southern California riding a 4-24 streak since the All-Star break, but ave taken advantage of poor pitching and defense on the part of the Angels to win each of the first two games, by scores of 10-2 and 10-7.

The 26 year old left-hander Peters stands only five-foot nine-inches and is in his first season with the Angels, acquired in an off-season trade after he was designated for assignment by the Marlins.

A 10th Round pick in 2014 out of the University of Texas went 14-6 with a 2.38 ERA in 24 starts in High-A and Double-A in 2016, and in 2017 earned a promotion to the majors after posting a 1.57 ERA in thirteen starts, primarily at Double-A. He didn’t fare as well with the Marlins, walking 5.5 batters per nine innings en route to a 5.17 ERA in six starts.

2018 provided little success, with a 5.61 ERA in nineteen starts for Triple-A New Orleans and 7.16 in 27 2.3 innings for the Fish, which led to his being cut at the end of the year.

Salt lake of the Pacific Coast League wasn’t anymore inviting, with a 6.47 ERA in eleven starts this year, but still Peters was promoted and been cromulent, with a 3.45 ERA in 31 innings, walking only eight but giving up seven long balls.

Peters’ fastball averages 91.2 this year, mixed with a curve ball and change up. This year he’s been barely adequate against left-handed batters, allowing a 798 OPS on a 256/333/465 line, but has been battered by righties to the tune of a 866 OPS, 291/321/544.

Archer, still struggling for consistency in the Pirates’ rotation, has gone six innings in each of his last two starts, allowing one and two runs respectively, as he’s walked only two while fanning fifteen. Those were only the fifth and six times in 21 starts that he’s held the opposition to under three runs.

Archer has been balanced with his splits, allowing a 258/331/459 batting line to right-handed batters and 233/335/476 to lefties.

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(revised lineup, as C Jacob Stalling was scratched with a migraine)

PIRATES

1 R Kevin Newman SS

2 S Bryan Reynolds LF

3 R Starling Marte CF

4 S Josh Bell DH

5 S Melky Cabrera RF

6 L Colin Moran 1B

7 R Elias Diaz C

8 L Adam Frazier 2B

9 R Erik Gonzalez 3B

RHP Chris Archer

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ANGELS

1 L Brian Goodwin LF

2 R Mike Trout CF

3 L Shohei Ohtani DH

4 L Kole Calhoun RF

5 R Albert Pujols 1B

6 R David Fletcher 3B

7 S Luis Rengifo 2B

8 L Anthony Bemboom C

9 R Wilfredo Tovar SS

LHP Dillon Peters