Sports Today Saturday, September 5
← Back to today’s slate MLB matchup · September 5, 2026
Los Angeles Angels
53-88 · 5th in AL West, 19.5 GB
Offense cooling lately
LHP Yusei Kikuchi · Balanced starter
@
Pittsburgh Pirates
70-72 · 4th in NL Central, 18 GB
Offense cooling lately
RHP Braxton Ashcraft · High-strikeout arm · plus control
MLB · PNC Park · 3:40 PM PT

Team Identity

Los Angeles Angels
Season-to-date, 141 games, 5,460 PA.
A below-league-average offense across most categories this season. The offense has cooled off recently.
Power
Well Below12
Contact
Well Below14
Plate Discipline
Below Avg33
Speed
Average48
RISP
Well Below13
Recent Form
Trending Down
Total bases per PA is down 26% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Season-to-date, 142 games, 5,728 PA.
An aggressive, patient offense that runs and pressures defenses on the bases. The offense has cooled off recently.
Power
Below Avg39
Contact
Average63
Plate Discipline
Above Avg70
Speed
Above Avg83
RISP
Above Avg69
Recent Form
Trending Down
Total bases per PA is down 21% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.

What This Game Is About

Biggest Advantage

Pirates' offense is defined by being aggressive, and this game tests whether Angels can match it.

Swing Factor

Braxton Ashcraft strikes hitters out at a 24.7% clip (74th percentile); Angels carry a 24.4% strikeout rate.

Momentum

Angels are trending down and Pirates are trending down over their last 10 games.

Key Matchups

Can Braxton Ashcraft miss enough bats?
Braxton Ashcraft strikes hitters out at a 24.7% clip (74th percentile); Angels carry a 24.4% strikeout rate.
Edge · Braxton AshcraftBraxton Ashcraft: 24.7% K rateAngels: 24.4% K rateHigh confidence
Can Braxton Ashcraft limit Angels' power?
Angels rank in the 12th percentile in extra-base production, while Braxton Ashcraft sits in the 47th percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · Braxton AshcraftAngels: 0.319 TB/PABraxton Ashcraft: 0.343 TB/PA allowed (664 PA)High confidence
Can Yusei Kikuchi limit Pirates' power?
Pirates rank in the 39th percentile in extra-base production, while Yusei Kikuchi sits in the 10th percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · PiratesPirates: 0.343 TB/PAYusei Kikuchi: 0.420 TB/PA allowed (200 PA)Moderate confidence
Can Yusei Kikuchi command the strike zone?
Pirates walk in 8.9% of trips; Yusei Kikuchi allows walks at a fairly typical rate (8.0%).
Edge · Yusei KikuchiPirates: 8.9% walk rateYusei Kikuchi: 8.0% walks allowedModerate confidence
How do Pirates handle left-handers?
Pirates have produced worse against left-handers this season (0.323 vs. 0.343 TB/PA overall).
Edge · Yusei Kikuchivs left-handers: 0.323 TB/PA (1748 PA)overall: 0.343 TB/PAModerate confidence

Pitcher Trends

Yusei Kikuchi
Yusei Kikuchi
Los Angeles Angels · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts5.2/start
Hits allowed5.8/start
5+ Strikeouts — 4 of last 66 or fewer Hits Allowed — 5 of last 6
22% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.
Braxton Ashcraft
Braxton Ashcraft
Pittsburgh Pirates · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts4.5/start
Hits allowed5.0/start
4 or fewer Hits Allowed — 4 of last 65 or fewer Strikeouts — 5 of last 6
25% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.

Player Trends

Jared Triolo
Jared Triolo
Pittsburgh Pirates · 0.265 hit rate · 0.353 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L53 / 5L107 / 10L2513 / 25
Total bases per PA is up 36% over his prior baseline, with hits in 7 of his last 9 games.
Vaughn Grissom
Vaughn Grissom
Los Angeles Angels · 0.233 hit rate · 0.488 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L54 / 5L106 / 10L2515 / 252-game hit streak
Total bases per PA is up 47% over his prior baseline, with hits in 6 of his last 10 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 12%.
Wade Meckler
Wade Meckler
Los Angeles Angels · 0.290 hit rate · 0.323 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L54 / 5L107 / 10L2518 / 25
On-base rate is up 21% over his prior baseline, with hits in 5 of his last 7 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 13%.
Jose Siri
Jose Siri
Los Angeles Angels · 0.000 hit rate · 0.000 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L50 / 5L101 / 10L258 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 100% over his prior baseline, with hits in 0 of his last 9 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 43%.
Rafael Flores
Rafael Flores
Pittsburgh Pirates · 0.111 hit rate · 0.222 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L103 / 10L2510 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 56% over his prior baseline, with hits in 3 of his last 9 games.
Denzer Guzman
Denzer Guzman
Los Angeles Angels · 0.083 hit rate · 0.125 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L104 / 10L2513 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 62% over his prior baseline, with hits in 2 of his last 6 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 29%.

Players Positioned to Succeed

80
Bryan Reynolds
Bryan Reynolds
1+ Hit
Pittsburgh Pirates
Why it stands out
Recent contact results are improving
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
75
Konnor Griffin
Konnor Griffin
1+ Hit
Pittsburgh Pirates
Why it stands out
Strong recent plate-appearance volume
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
72
Nick Gonzales
Nick Gonzales
1+ Hit
Pittsburgh Pirates
Why it stands out
Recent contact results are improving
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
72
Nolan Schanuel
Nolan Schanuel
1+ Hit
Los Angeles Angels
Why it stands out
Recent contact results are improving
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
70
Oneil Cruz
Oneil Cruz
1+ Hit
Pittsburgh Pirates
Why it stands out
Strong recent plate-appearance volume
Main risk
Elevated recent strikeout rate
70
Donovan Walton
Donovan Walton
1+ Hit
Los Angeles Angels
Why it stands out
Low recent strikeout rate
Main risk
Recent hit rate has cooled

Expected Game Shape

BalancedLow confidence

Competitive profile without a clear stylistic tilt. Pirates bring more power.

Early edge Pirates Driver No single dominant factor Volatility Moderate
  • Both probable starters grade around the 49th percentile in combined suppression.
  • Angels are trending down; Pirates are trending down.

Storylines to Watch

Can Angels handle Braxton Ashcraft's strikeout stuff?
Angels have been a below-average contact team while Braxton Ashcraft misses bats at an above-average rate — a swing factor early.
Angels contact percentile: 14
Can Jose Siri snap out of it?
Jose Siri has cooled off. Total bases per PA is down 100% over his prior baseline, with hits in 0 of his last 9 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 43%.
0.000 hit rate · 0.000 TB/PA · 0.233 hit rate · 0.401 TB/PA
Is Jared Triolo the one to watch?
Jared Triolo enters as Pirates' hottest bat. Total bases per PA is up 36% over his prior baseline, with hits in 7 of his last 9 games.
0.265 hit rate · 0.353 TB/PA · 0.201 hit rate · 0.259 TB/PA
Based on plate appearances before 2026-09-05, with today's posted lineups when available. Injuries, weather, bullpen availability, and park factors are not yet included.