Oakland Athletics vs. Pittsburgh Pirates: Preview, Pitching Matchup, Odds & Key Players for September 19, 2025

Friday, September 19th, 2025

Athletics Take on Pittsburgh Pirates: Game Preview and Key Details

The Oakland Athletics (72-81, fourth in the AL West) travel to PNC Park to face the Pittsburgh Pirates (65-88, fifth in the NL Central) on Friday at 6:40 p.m. EDT. Both teams are looking to finish their seasons on a high note, with the Pirates eager to end a six-game home losing streak.

Pitching Matchup

The Athletics are set to start Luis Severino (6-11, 4.82 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 116 strikeouts), while the Pirates counter with Mitch Keller (6-14, 4.13 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 140 strikeouts). Oddsmakers have pegged this contest as nearly even, with the Athletics at -111 and the Pirates at -108. The total for runs is set at 8.5.

Weather

Today at PNC Park, expect pleasant baseball weather with partly cloudy skies and temperatures around 72°F. There's little to no chance of precipitation, so rain delays are unlikely. A gentle southwest breeze at 6-10 mph may give a slight boost to balls hit toward right field.

Team Insights

Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh holds a 42-36 record at home this season but has an overall record of 65-88. The Pirates are particularly effective when outhitting their opponents, boasting a 46-15 record in such games.

Oakland Athletics

The Athletics enter the matchup with a 39-39 road record and a .255 team batting average, which is the fourth-best in MLB play. This will be the first meeting of the season between these two teams.

Top Performers

For the Pirates

Andrew McCutchen has played a key role, recording 22 doubles, 13 home runs, and 56 RBI with a .239 batting average. Nick Gonzales has been in strong form recently, going 10-for-41 with two doubles and a triple over his last ten games.

For the Athletics

Brent Rooker leads the Athletics with 40 doubles, three triples, 30 home runs, and 87 RBI. Carlos Cortes has been productive over his last ten games, batting 7-for-16 with two doubles, four home runs, and seven RBI.

Recent Performance

Pirates (Last 10 Games)

The Pirates have struggled, going 1-9 with a team batting average of .180 and a 3.99 ERA. They have been outscored by 20 runs during this span.

Athletics (Last 10 Games)

The Athletics are 6-4 in their last ten games, hitting .254 with a 3.64 ERA and outscoring their opponents by one run.

Injury Report

Pittsburgh Pirates

Ronny Simon (shoulder) – 10-Day IL
Endy Rodriguez (elbow) – 60-Day IL
Enmanuel Valdez (shoulder) – 60-Day IL
Jared Jones (elbow) – 60-Day IL

Oakland Athletics

Ben Bowden (lat) – 60-Day IL
Joey Estes (back) – 15-Day IL
Jacob Lopez (flexor) – 15-Day IL
Jack Perkins (shoulder) – 15-Day IL
Austin Wynns (abdomen) – 60-Day IL
Denzel Clarke (abductor) – 10-Day IL
Max Muncy (hand) – 10-Day IL
Grant Holman (shoulder) – 60-Day IL
Gunnar Hoglund (hip) – 60-Day IL
Jose Leclerc (shoulder) – 60-Day IL
Luis Medina (elbow) – 60-Day IL

In summary

The Friday night clash between the Athletics and Pirates features a close pitching battle and favorable weather conditions for baseball at PNC Park. The Pirates are hoping to snap their home skid, while the Athletics look to capitalize on their consistent hitting. Key performers like Brent Rooker and Andrew McCutchen could make the difference in this first meeting of the season. Stay tuned for an exciting game as Pittsburgh seeks a turnaround and Oakland continues its push with a strong lineup.

Related Links

• Athletics News & Updates
• Athletics Schedule & Scores
• Pittsburgh Pirates News & Updates
• Pittsburgh Pirates Schedule & Scores
• MLB News