Pirates Conclude Season with Braves Road Series

Barco expressed the collective excitement of the young players arriving in the majors, telling reporters after the game, “This is what everyone's been talking about the last couple years, getting that group up here. We're here and ready to win some baseball games".

He, along with Chandler and Flores, are among the nine players from the Pirates' 2025 Triple-A affiliate to make their MLB debuts this season, and most are expected to compete for roster spots next spring.

This weekend's series against the Braves offers a final opportunity for these emerging players to make their case before the offseason.

Key Stats

• Pirates' Pitching Prowess: Team ERA (1.64) is lowest in MLB over last seven days
• Bounceback Braves?: Loss on Wednesday snapped a nine game winning streak
• The Pirates and Braves have met a total of 2,190 times. The Pirates lead the series 1,120-1,054.

Probable Pitchers & Matchups

Game 1: Friday, 7:15 PM EDT at Truist Park

• PIT: RHP Mitch Keller (6-15, 4.22 ERA, 144 K)
• ATL: LHP Joey Wentz (5-6, 5.46 ERA, 89 K)
• Key Battle: Keller vs Braves OF Ronald Acuna Jr. (.389 AVG, 1.310 OPS, 3 HR, 4 RBI in 18 career AB against Keller)

Game 2: Saturday, 7:15 PM EDT at Truist Park

• PIT: RHP Bubba Chandler (3-1, 4.56 ERA, 25 K)
• ATL: RHP Spencer Strider (7-13, 4.45 ERA, 126 K)
• Key Battle: Chandler vs Braves 1B Matt Olson (First career matchup between Chandler and all Braves hitters)

Game 3: Sunday, 3:15 PM EDT at Truist Park

• PIT: RHP Johan Oviedo (2-0, 3.57 ERA, 39 K)
• ATL: RHP Charlie Morton (9-11, 5.89 ERA, 148 K)
• Key Battle: Morton vs Pirates OF Tommy Pham (.273 AVG, 2 HR, 3 RBI in 11 career AB against Morton)

Players to Watch

• SP Bubba Chandler (PIT): 5 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 6 K in last start
• OF Bryan Reynolds (PIT): .300 AVG, .462 OBP, 1 HR, 2 2B in last seven days
• SP Spencer Strider (ATL): 5 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 3 BB in last start
• OF Ronald Acuna Jr. (ATL): .286 AVG, 1.214 OPS, 3 HR, 8 BB, 6 RBI over last seven days