Pirates Set Sail for Showdown at Steinbrenner Field Against Yankees

As the Pittsburgh Pirates prepare to face off against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field, fans are buzzing with anticipation. The Pirates, coming off a series of mixed results in their preseason games, have shown they can swing the bat with authority and rack up runs when it counts.

In their recent game on March 18 against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Pirates' bats were on fire as they amassed 16 hits and scored 11 runs. Their hitting was particularly explosive in the third inning where they collected six hits and crossed home plate six times. With a batting average of .390 and an on-base plus slugging (OPS) of 1.078 from that game alone, it's clear that when this team gets hot, they're capable of piling up scores quickly.

However, defensive woes have been a concern for PIT as evidenced by their three errors in that same game against PHI. This is an area where they'll need to tighten up if they want to stand strong against NYY's lineup.

Looking back at another recent performance on March 17 versus Tampa Bay Rays at LECOM Park in Bradenton – which is worth noting since it was also against a team from New York's division – PIT showed resilience and depth by overcoming two errors to secure an 8-4 victory. Their ability to capitalize with runners in scoring position was key; hitting .375 with runners in scoring position shows clutch performance under pressure.

Pitching has been relatively solid for PIT as well; starters held opponents to a .238 batting average across these games while the bullpen maintained an ERA of zero during their outing on March 18th.

The Yankees will be no easy opponent though; known for their powerhouse roster and competitive edge, NYY will test every aspect of PIT’s game plan. The Pirates must leverage their offensive momentum while shoring up defense and maintaining steady pitching if they hope to navigate through this challenge successfully.

Fans eagerly await what promises to be an exciting clash between these two teams scheduled for March 20th at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. The first pitch is set for 6:35 PM ET and those unable to attend can catch all the action broadcasted live on YES network.