MLB series of the week: Phillies vs. Pirates

The first battle of Pennsylvania of the 2024 MLB season is finally here, as the Pittsburgh Pirates head to the City of Brotherly Love to take on the Philadelphia Phillies for a four-game series this weekend.

During the 2023 season, each team took a series, winning two out of the three games. The Pirates took the first series that was played in Pittsburgh, while the Phillies won the second series that was in Philadelphia.

The visiting Pittsburgh Pirates are off to a spectacular start, with a 9-3 record and are first in the NL Central. They started the season 5-0 for the first time since 1983 and is their sixth time doing so in franchise history.

The Pirates swept a four-game series against the Miami Marlins and won both three-game series against the Washington Nationals and the Baltimore Orioles, even though they lost one game against each team. They split their most recent two-game series with the Detroit Tigers.

Right fielder Edward Olivares leads the team with three home runs, two of which came in their loss against Detroit on Tuesday. Right fielder Bryan Reynolds has 10 RBIs to lead the team, along with two home runs and eight bases on balls.

Starting pitcher Jared Jones has a 1-1 record this season for Pittsburgh with a 3.86 earned run average. He has allowed nine hits and two walks while throwing for 17 strikeouts.

Meanwhile, the home team Phillies currently sit second in the NL East with a 5-6 record, sitting only behind the Atlanta Braves, who defeated them in their first two games of the season and took the series. Philadelphia won the final game of the series 5-4.

They currently have one series win against the Washington Nationals, who they defeated with 4-0 and 5-2 victories before losing the final game of the series 3-2. Their series losses came against the Braves and Cincinnati Reds, but the Phillies did win one game in each series.

First baseman Bryce Harper and left fielder Brandon Marsh lead the team in home runs scored with three each. Harper, Marsh, and third baseman Alec Bohm all have seven RBIs, which tie for the team lead.

Ranger Suárez is set to be the starting pitcher for the Phillies on Thursday, who has a 4.09 earned run average and a 1-0 record as a starter. He has thrown for 11 strikeouts and has allowed seven hits and one walk.

The Phillies will be looking to get their second series victory, while the Pirates will try to stay undefeated on series wins.

However, this series win will taste a little sweeter for the victor since it is the highly anticipated clash of the Keystone State.

Game 1 of the series is set to take place Thursday with the first pitch at 6:40 pm.

Ashley Mascaro is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email aem6398@psu.edu.