The Pittsburgh Pirates head to South Florida on Wednesday, August 12 to open a road matchup against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park, with first pitch set for 6:40 PM ET. Carmen Mlodzinski gets the ball for Pittsburgh, squaring off against Miami's Janson Junk in what shapes up as a pitching matchup worth watching. This one airs locally on SportsNet Pittsburgh and on Sports Radio 93.7 KDKA The Fan for those who can't get to a screen. Every game down the stretch of the 2026 season carries real weight, and the Pirates need to take care of business against a Marlins club that has been one of baseball's more inconsistent teams.
Pitching Matchup: Mlodzinski vs. Junk
Carmen Mlodzinski draws the start for the Bucs. The right-hander has been building his case for a consistent rotation role throughout 2026, and Wednesday is another opportunity to cement his standing. Mlodzinski has the stuff to keep lineups off-balance when he is locating his fastball and mixing his secondary pitches effectively. The Pirates will need him to work deep into the game and keep the bullpen fresh with a busy schedule ahead.
On the other side, Miami sends Janson Junk to the hill. Junk has shown flashes of competitiveness at the major league level and is not a pitcher any team should take lightly. The name might invite jokes in the press box, but the Pirates' lineup needs to come prepared with a disciplined approach rather than assuming an easy afternoon against Miami's starter.
Keys to Watch for the Pirates
- Mlodzinski's command: If he is hitting his spots early, Pittsburgh has a real chance to control the tempo of this game. Early walks can unravel an otherwise solid start in a hurry, especially on the road.
- Offensive patience: The Pirates need to work counts against Junk and not let him settle in. Making him throw pitches deep into at-bats will expose any vulnerabilities and give Pittsburgh's offense a chance to break through.
- Bullpen management: Depending on how Mlodzinski fares, manager Derek Shelton will need to be sharp with his relievers. Protecting leads and matching up against Miami's lefty-righty mix late in games has been a consistent storyline for this club.
- Road focus: loanDepot Park can be a quirky environment. The Pirates have to execute their fundamentals — no mental mistakes on the basepaths, clean defense behind Mlodzinski — to keep Miami from manufacturing runs in ways the scoreboard shouldn't allow.
Prediction
This is a winnable game for Pittsburgh. Mlodzinski has the talent to keep the Marlins' lineup in check for six-plus innings, and if the Pirates' offense shows patience against Junk and gets to Miami's bullpen, the runs should be there. The edge goes to Pittsburgh on Wednesday night. Pirates 5, Marlins 3.
