The Pittsburgh Pirates return to PNC Park on Saturday, September 19 to host the Kansas City Royals in a 6:40 PM ET first pitch. Bubba Chandler gets the ball for Pittsburgh, squaring off against Royals right-hander Noah Cameron in what figures to be an intriguing pitching matchup between two young arms trying to make their case down the stretch of the regular season. With September baseball in full swing, every start matters — and this one is no different for a Pirates club looking to finish strong on its home turf.
Pitching Matchup: Bubba Chandler vs. Noah Cameron
Bubba Chandler is the story on the Pittsburgh side. The hard-throwing Pirates prospect has been one of the more closely watched young starters in the organization, and a start at PNC Park in front of the home crowd in late September carries real weight. Chandler's ability to generate swings and misses gives Pittsburgh a legitimate weapon, and how he manages his pitch count and sequences against a Kansas City lineup will be the central question of the evening.
For the Royals, Noah Cameron draws the assignment. Cameron is another young arm working to establish himself at the big-league level. The Pirates will need to do their homework — a fresh or lightly-scouted pitcher can be an early challenge until hitters get a read on his stuff.
Keys to Watch for the Pittsburgh Pirates
- Chandler's command: When Chandler is throwing strikes and working ahead in counts, he's a different pitcher. If he's in the zone early, this could be a long night for Kansas City's lineup.
- Capitalizing against an unfamiliar arm: Cameron doesn't have an extensive track record Pirates hitters can lean on. Patient at-bats early to get a look at his arsenal will be critical before the lineup can turn over.
- Bullpen management: With a young starter on the hill, Pittsburgh's relievers need to be ready. The Pirates' ability to bridge from Chandler to the back end of the bullpen cleanly could determine the outcome as much as anything else.
- Home crowd energy: PNC Park in September with a Pirates team fighting to close the year on a winning note is exactly the environment where the home field advantage means something. The crowd can be a factor.
Broadcast Information
Saturday's game can be seen locally on SportsNet Pittsburgh and heard on Sports Radio 93.7 KDKA The Fan. Royals fans can catch the action on Royals.TV, 96.5 The Fan, or the Royals Radio Network.
Prediction
Give me the Pirates in this one. Chandler pitching at home with the crowd behind him is a favorable setup, and Pittsburgh's familiarity with PNC Park's dimensions and atmosphere is a real edge against a Royals club coming in as the road team. Expect a tight, low-scoring game that comes down to which bullpen holds up in the late innings. Pirates win, 3-2.
