The Pittsburgh Pirates wrap up their homestand at PNC Park on Sunday, August 16, welcoming the Boston Red Sox for a 1:35 PM ET afternoon game. Right-hander Lake Bachar gets the ball for Pittsburgh, squaring off against left-hander Patrick Sandoval for Boston. With the regular season in its final stretch, every game carries roster and positioning weight — this one is no different, and the Pirates will want to send the home crowd home happy before whatever comes next on the road.

Probable Pitchers: Lake Bachar vs. Patrick Sandoval

Bachar draws the Sunday start for the Bucs. The right-hander has been a part of Pittsburgh's pitching mix and will be tested by a Boston lineup that has legitimate pop up and down the order. His ability to work ahead in counts and limit hard contact will be the central question of the afternoon.

Sandoval comes in as a veteran lefty who knows how to navigate a lineup. Pittsburgh's hitters will need to be disciplined against him, especially early in at-bats. Getting into the Boston bullpen sooner rather than later would be a win in itself for the Pirates offense.

Pittsburgh Pirates Starting Lineup

• 1. Jared Triolo — SS
• 2. Esmerlyn Valdez — RF
• 3. Bryan Reynolds — DH
• 4. Brandon Lowe — 2B
• 5. Rafael Flores Jr. — 1B
• 6. Jake Mangum — LF
• 7. Nick Yorke — 3B
• 8. Billy Cook — CF
• 9. Henry Davis — C

Boston Red Sox Starting Lineup

• 1. Nick Sogard — 1B
• 2. Ceddanne Rafaela — CF
• 3. Wilyer Abreu — RF
• 4. Adley Rutschman — DH
• 5. Caleb Durbin — 3B
• 6. Andruw Monasterio — SS
• 7. Jarren Duran — LF
• 8. Anthony Seigler — 2B
• 9. Connor Wong — C

Keys to Watch for the Pirates

• Bryan Reynolds in the middle of the order: Slotted third and in the DH role, Reynolds is the offensive anchor Pittsburgh needs to produce. If he's seeing the ball well against Sandoval, the lineup has a chance to do real damage.
• Bachar's command against a deep Red Sox order: Boston's lineup features Adley Rutschman — one of the better two-strike hitters in the American League — batting cleanup. Bachar cannot afford to fall behind in counts against Boston's middle of the order.
• Henry Davis behind the dish: Davis catching and batting ninth gives the Pirates a chance to cycle the lineup with Triolo coming up right behind him. How Davis manages Bachar's arsenal and handles the Boston running game matters as much as his bat.
• Esmerlyn Valdez continuing to establish himself: The young outfielder batting second is a developmental data point worth tracking. His at-bats against a crafty lefty like Sandoval will tell you something real about where he is.

Prediction

This is a winnable game at home. Bachar will need to be sharp, and the Pirates offense has to show patience against Sandoval early. If Reynolds and Lowe can get something going in the middle innings and Bachar keeps Boston off the board through four or five frames, Pittsburgh has the pieces to take this one. Bucs 4, Red Sox 3.

Coverage begins at 1:35 PM ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh and Sports Radio 93.7 KDKA The Fan.