As the Pittsburgh Pirates and Athletics wind down their unremarkable seasons, expect to see a number of players get their first opportunities in the major leagues, maybe even on Friday night when they open a three-game series in Pittsburgh.
Rafael Flores, who was acquired from the New York Yankees in a trade for right-handed pitcher David Bednar on July 31, earned his opportunity with the Pirates (65-88) on Wednesday, playing first base and going 1-for-3 with a walk in the 8-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
“Getting traded definitely was a little weird,” Flores said. “It’s something you’re not really taught to do. You kind of just have to go through it, and I think it was all a benefit for me. I got here and I was uncomfortable. I used that uncomfortable feeling to my benefit.”
Flores, who grew up in Anaheim and played at Katella High and Rio Hondo College in Whittier, Calif., was never drafted, instead working his way through the Alaska Baseball League before the Yankees signed him to a pro contract in July of 2022.
Baseball America named Flores as the Minor League Player of the Year for the Yankees in 2024. In 36 games with Triple-A Indianapolis following the trade, Flores batted .281 with an .822 OPS and six home runs.
“I’ve continued to just swing it,” Flores said. “I feel like that’s my biggest strength, staying healthy and being able to play every day.”
The Pirates plan to start right-hander Mitch Keller in the series opener.
Keller (6-14, 4.13 ERA) has strung together strong starts his last two times out, but didn’t earn the win in either game.
He most recently allowed two runs and four hits over 5 1/3 innings last Friday against the Washington Nationals, but was lifted after 62 pitches in the eventual 6-5 loss.
“As a competitor, you want to stay out there,” Keller said. “I wish I could go nine every game.”
Keller has faced the A’s twice in his career and lost both games while posting a 6.97 ERA.
The A’s (72-81) are coming off a 5-3 win at the Boston Red Sox on Thursday afternoon in the rubber game of their three-game series. Boston is trying to hold onto the third wild-card spot in the American League.
The A’s swept the Cincinnati Reds in a three-game series last weekend. The Reds are also battling for a playoff spot.
The A’s plan to start right-hander Luis Severino (6-11, 4.82) on Friday.
Severino does not have a decision in three starts this month, posting a 4.80 ERA in those games.
He most recently allowed five runs and six hits over five innings in an 11-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds last Saturday. He departed with the score tied 5-5.
Severino has made four starts against the Pirates in his career and is 3-1 with a 3.13 ERA.
He did not allow an earned run over six innings in a 9-1 win against the Pirates on April 17 of last season, but was lit up for seven runs over six innings in a 14-2 loss 2 1/2 months later.
The A’s have made a name for themselves with the long ball this season, becoming the second MLB team with three players with at least 30 home runs.
Brent Rooker homered on Thursday to give him three straight 30-homer seasons for the A’s.
Nick Kurtz has 32 home runs and Shea Langeliers has 30.
Kurtz hit a 493-foot home run against the Reds last weekend, the longest home run in the MLB since 2023.
“(Jose) Canseco and (Mark) McGwire used to hit balls like that,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “In a different era.”