Braves Drop Rain Delayed Saturday Afternoon Matchup to Pirates

The Atlanta Braves had some terrible batted ball luck on Saturday afternoon in PNC Park.

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Nick Gonzales (39) high-fives in the dugout after scoring a run against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning at PNC Park / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Braves dropped a rain-delayed contest 4-1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates to drop the series on Saturday afternoon from PNC Park.

Here’s what you need to know about from the contest.

Reynaldo López was a weather victim

Atlanta’s ERA leader wasn’t exactly cruising, but he was doing fine with three runs (two earned) in 4.2 innings before the day’s second rain delay stopped play in the fifth inning. The delay was just long enough to knock López out of the ballgame despite a perfectly fine pitch count - 70 pitches (43 strikes). 

On a wet day, he struggled to get swing and miss, putting up only seven whiffs (and none on the fastball despite throwing 37 on them). His CSW was 26%, so slightly below league average, but his curveball actually ticked up to 10% usage against an aggressive Pirates lineup that was attacking early and often in their at-bats. 

Reynaldo López, Dirty 85mph Slider. 😨 pic.twitter.com/9rZyHPEImR

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 25, 2024

Atlanta scored only one run, but it wasn’t for lack of trying

Braves hitters went up looking to do damage off of Pirates starter Mitch Keller (who has historically struggled against Atlanta), and they sure tried: Atlanta had fourteen hard-hit balls (exit velocity greater than or equal to 95 mph) in this one, but an absurd ten of them went for outs. It’s tied for the most-hard hit outs by an Atlanta lineup this season, only matched in their loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 3rd.

Atlanta's high this season is 10, on May 3rd against the Dodgers. I remember that game being frustrating pic.twitter.com/xC7HHprLDl

— Lindsay Crosby, big baseball guy (@CrosbyBaseball) May 25, 2024

Despite what some may think, hitting the ball hard is, in fact, better than not doing so, and typically leads to better outcomes: 

Batted balls > 95 mph = leaguewide batting average of .506
Batted balls < 95 mph = leaguewide batting average of .221

Hitting the ball hard is better from a baseball standpoint: even if it didn't work out THIS time, the math says it will more often then not hitting the ball hard

— Lindsay Crosby, big baseball guy (@CrosbyBaseball) May 25, 2024

Jimmy Herget got his first Braves action

Atlanta called up reliever Jimmy Herget this morning, just weeks after acquiring him from the Los Angeles Angels for cash considerations. The “Human Glitch” pitched a scoreless eighth inning, walking one and getting two strikeouts. 

What’s next for the Atlanta Braves?

Atlanta’s wra[ping up the series on Sunday afternoon with veteran Chris Sale (7-1, 2.22 ERA) on the mound opposite lefty Martín Pérez (1-3, 4.80 ERA), with the veteran Sale looking to avert a Pirates sweep. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 PM ET on Bally Sports Southeast.