The Pittsburgh Pirates head to the Bronx for a Monday night showdown against the New York Yankees, with first pitch set for 7:05 PM ET at Yankee Stadium. Braxton Ashcraft gets the ball for Pittsburgh against New York's Ryan Weathers in a matchup that offers the Bucs a legitimate measuring-stick opportunity on the road. With Bryan Reynolds anchoring the middle of the order and a lineup that includes some interesting pieces, this is a game the Pirates need to take seriously — road wins in a venue like this don't come easy, and every result at this stage of the season carries weight in the standings.

Pitching Matchup: Braxton Ashcraft vs. Ryan Weathers

Ashcraft is the story on the mound for Pittsburgh. The 24-year-old right-hander has been developing through the system and carries the expectations of a franchise that needs young arms to step up. He'll face a Yankees lineup that presents different looks throughout — from the top of the order down to the ninth spot, New York has legitimate threats at nearly every position. Ashcraft will need to control the strike zone and work efficiently if he wants to give the Pirates a chance to win this one late.

Weathers takes the hill for New York. Pittsburgh's hitters will need to get into the Yankees bullpen, and that means making Weathers work early and often.

Pittsburgh Pirates Starting Lineup

• Nick Gonzales, 3B
• Brandon Lowe, 2B
• Bryan Reynolds, LF
• Esmerlyn Valdez, RF
• Ryan O'Hearn, 1B
• Marcell Ozuna, DH
• Jared Triolo, SS
• Henry Davis, C
• Billy Cook, CF

New York Yankees Starting Lineup

• Trent Grisham, CF
• Ben Rice, DH
• Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
• Cody Bellinger, LF
• Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B
• Jasson Domínguez, RF
• Ryan McMahon, 3B
• Austin Wells, C
• José Caballero, SS

Keys to Watch for the Pirates

• Reynolds as the engine: Bryan Reynolds batting third is the right call. If he can get on base consistently and set the table for the middle of the order, Pittsburgh has a path to manufacturing runs in a tough environment.
• Ashcraft's command: Yankee Stadium amplifies mistakes. Ashcraft cannot afford to leave pitches in hitters' zones against a lineup that includes Goldschmidt, Bellinger, and Chisholm Jr. Throwing strikes — the right kind — will define his night.
• Henry Davis behind the plate: Davis needs to control the running game and manage Ashcraft's arsenal effectively. His development as a two-way catcher matters for the Pirates' long-term plans, and nights like this are exactly where that growth shows up.
• Getting Weathers into a count: The Pirates' best chance is grinding at-bats early. Gonzales and Lowe at the top need to be disciplined and patient to set the tone.

Prediction

Yankee Stadium is not a friendly place for a young starter finding his footing, and the Yankees lineup has enough firepower to make life difficult for Ashcraft. That said, the Pirates have Reynolds and enough lineup depth to stay competitive into the late innings. Expect a close game that ultimately tilts New York's way — but don't be surprised if Pittsburgh steals one. Yankees 5, Pirates 3.

Catch the game on SportsNet Pittsburgh locally or tune in on Sports Radio 93.7 KDKA The Fan.