Pirates vs A's Preview: Skenes Tribute Meets Ginn's Chance

Both the Pirates and Athletics are struggling right now. Pittsburgh sits at 36-36 and just lost their last game. Oakland is 35-36, also on a losing streak. These are two teams desperate to climb back into things. The Pirates' Jared Jones takes the mound for Pittsburgh. Jones has a 4.5 ERA this season and will need to be sharp. The Athletics counter with J.T. Ginn on the hill. This is a matchup between two evenly matched squads searching for answers. Whoever finds their rhythm first could take control of this game and build some momentum heading forward.

The Pirates are banged up right now. Oneil Cruz, a star center fielder, fractured bones in his hand during a hard slide in Atlanta. He won't return until mid-July at the earliest. Konnor Griffin, a promising young shortstop, is also hurt with a forearm issue. Joey Bart, the catcher, is working his way back from a foot infection on a rehab assignment. These injuries pile up and make it tougher for Pittsburgh to score runs and stay competitive. The Pirates need their healthy hitters to step up and carry the load while their stars heal on the sidelines.

Oakland has plenty of hurt players too. Luis Severino, a veteran starting pitcher, suffered a shoulder strain and needs at least 4 to 6 weeks to recover. Aaron Civale was recently cleared to return from a shoulder injury. Brent Rooker, the designated hitter, has a knee bruise keeping him sidelined. Denzel Clarke in center field got a high-grade hamstring injury and is done for a long time. The Athletics' pitching staff is getting squeezed by these injuries. With so many key pieces out, Oakland needs J.T. Ginn to deliver a solid start and keep this game close. Every healthy player counts now.