Pirates and Blue Jays to Lock Horns in LECOM Park Duel

As the Pittsburgh Pirates prepare to host the Toronto Blue Jays at LECOM Park, fans are eager to see if their team can turn around a recent slump. The Pirates' performance in their last few games has been a mixed bag, with their hitting showing signs of both promise and concern.

In their most recent game against the New York Yankees, the Pirates were shut out, managing only four hits and no runs. Their batting average was a paltry .133 with an on-base percentage (OBP) of .188 and slugging percentage (SLG) of .200. This lackluster offensive display is something they'll be looking to improve upon.

However, just two games prior against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Pirates' bats came alive as they amassed 16 hits with an impressive batting average of .390. They scored 11 runs that day while maintaining an OBP of .444 and SLG of .634. This shows that when they're on form, they can be a formidable opponent at the plate.

Pitching has also been inconsistent for Pittsburgh. Against Tampa Bay Rays, their bullpen managed an earned run average (ERA) of 4.5 over six innings pitched but showed better control with a walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) standing at 1.3333.

Defensively speaking, errors have been few for Pittsburgh which suggests solid fielding when under pressure – something that will be crucial against Toronto's hitters.

The upcoming game promises to be an interesting one as both teams look to assert themselves early in this preseason matchup. Fans attending or tuning in will hope for more consistency from the Pirates' hitters and pitchers alike as they aim for victory on home soil.

The game is scheduled for March 21st at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida; first pitch is set for 6:05 PM ET. Fans can catch all the action live on SportsNet PT network.