The Pirates' 11-Game Power Streak Is Shocking the League, and Atlanta's Pitchers Are Up Next

Alright, Emerald City, gather 'round! Something wild is happening in baseball, and it's not even at T-Mobile Park. The Pittsburgh Pirates, yeah, those Pirates, are on an absolute tear, smashing dingers in an insane 11 straight games! That kind of power is turning heads. Tonight, they roll into Atlanta to face the Braves, another squad that absolutely rakes. You know this series opener is gonna be a slugfest.

The Batting Order Is on Fire

Can you believe it? The Pirates' current home run streak is legit historic, matching their best power displays from 2015, 2012, 1996, 1994, and way back in '66. Ryan O'Hearn smacked his ninth homer Thursday, keeping that fire burning as they took down the Houston Astros 5-1. Pittsburgh has won five of their last six games, fueled by Brandon Lowe (.257, 15 HR, 40 RBIs) and Oneil Cruz (.269, 14 HR, 44 RBIs). Lowe totally nailed it: "Hitting is contagious...When the bats are hot, I feel like everyone is kind of racing to the bat rack to get up there." You can feel that energy, right? The Braves aren't slouches, sitting third in the majors with 329 runs, just above Pittsburgh's 325. Even after a 7-2 loss to Toronto, Atlanta still took two out of three, making their series record an incredible 17-2-1. Two of the best offenses in baseball going head-to-head!

Pitching Duel or Slugfest?

So, who's stepping onto the mound for this high-stakes opener? For Atlanta, it's left-hander Martin Perez (3-3, 2.79 ERA). He looked solid last outing, allowing two runs on four hits over five innings in a 5-2 win against Cincinnati. Perez has done pretty well against the Pirates historically: 3-1 with a 3.47 ERA in four career starts. He didn't face them last year. On the other side, the Pirates are sending right-hander Mitch Keller (5-2, 4.35 ERA). Keller's 13th start, but his last one wasn't his best: season-high seven runs and ten hits over just four innings in a wild 10-9 win against Minnesota. Against the Braves, he's had a tougher career, 1-3 with a 7.31 ERA over seven starts. Last year, he gave up one run on three hits and five walks in 3 2/3 innings in his final appearance. This pitching matchup is the ultimate test with those red-hot bats waiting! And let's not forget about Atlanta's Michael Harris II. The guy is just 25, batting .321 with one homer and five RBIs over his last seven games. Manager Walt Weiss says, "Michael is having a good year, man...he can hit it really hard, and he can do some damage outside the strike zone. Mikey's turned into really good player." This game is packed with talent!

Tonight's game isn't just another Friday night; it's a battle between two of the league's most potent offenses. The Pirates actually took their season series against the Braves last year, 4-2, their first time doing that since 2017. So, they know they can get it done. It's gonna be a high-energy clash, for sure, and one to keep an eye on as these teams build crucial momentum.

Oh, and speaking of baseball, tough one for our M's back home. The New York Mets beat the Seattle Mariners 7-1. Always next game, right? Go M's!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.