The Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Angels faced off in a crucial three-game series in Anaheim in April 2025, with the Pirates seeking to complete a rare road sweep. The final game on April 24 was pivotal, with the Angels aiming to avoid being swept at home. The key storylines involved Andrew McCutchen’s pursuit of a franchise home run record and the contrasting performances of the two starting pitchers, Tyler Anderson and Carmen Mlodzinski. Both teams were dealing with significant injuries, which affected their lineups and overall performance. The Pirates entered the game with momentum after a 9-3 victory in the second game of the series.
Hashtags
MLB Series: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Los Angeles Angels (April 2025)
General Series Overview
Context and Stakes
The three-game series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Angels at Anaheim in April 2025 featured the Pirates attempting to complete a sweep, while the Angels were fighting to avoid being swept entirely. The final game of the series took place on Thursday, April 24, 2025, with significant implications for both teams’ early-season momentum.
Schedule and Game Locations
All three games of the series were played at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, giving the home-field advantage to the Angels despite their recent struggles. The atmospheric California venue provided the backdrop for what turned out to be a compelling series.
Analysis of the Final Series Game (April 24, 2025)
Key Game Information
Teams and Standings
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Entered with a 10-15 record, sitting fourth in the National League Central Division
- Los Angeles Angels: Came in with an 11-12 record, positioned fourth in the American League West Division
Both teams were struggling in the early season, making this series crucial for building momentum heading into May.
Date, Time, and Location
Thursday, April 24, 2025, with first pitch scheduled for 9:29 PM EDT at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.
Probable Pitchers
- Pirates: Carmen Mlodzinski (1-3, 7.41 ERA) was slated to take the mound for Pittsburgh
- Angels: Tyler John Anderson (2-0, 2.08 ERA) was named the starter for Los Angeles
The pitching matchup favored the Angels considerably on paper, with Anderson sporting a stellar early-season ERA compared to Mlodzinski’s struggles.
Betting Odds
The Angels entered as -142 favorites, with the Pirates as +120 underdogs. The over/under for the game was set at 8½ runs, reflecting the contrast between Anderson’s effectiveness and Mlodzinski’s high ERA.
Stakes: Pirates Looking for Series Sweep
Thursday’s game represented the third and final contest of the series, with the Pirates having won the first two games. Pittsburgh had an opportunity to complete a road sweep against an American League opponent, a rare and valuable achievement.
Recent Team Performances
Los Angeles Angels
- Overall record of 11-12, with a balanced 4-4 record at home
- Demonstrated effectiveness when the offense produced, posting a 6-2 record in games where they scored five or more runs
- Recent form: 3-7 in their last 10 games with a concerning .180 team batting average, though their pitching staff maintained a respectable 3.87 ERA
- Run differential in the last 10 games: -16 (scored 16 fewer runs than their opponents)
Pittsburgh Pirates
- Overall record of 10-15, struggling on the road with a 4-8 away record
- Showed vulnerability to the long ball, going 3-10 in games where they allowed at least one home run
- Recent form: 5-5 in their last 10 games with a solid .269 team batting average and impressive 3.00 ERA
- Run differential in the last 10 games: +8 (scored 8 more runs than their opponents)
Despite their overall records, the Pirates showed better recent form entering the final game of the series, particularly in pitching effectiveness and offensive production.
Key Players and Performers
Los Angeles Angels
- Taylor Ward: Emerged as a power threat with four doubles and six home runs on the season
- Nolan Schanuel: Batting 8-for-34 (.235) with a double and two home runs over his last 10 games, showing moderate production
Pittsburgh Pirates
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Maintained a strong .291 batting average with three doubles and a triple
- Bryan Reynolds: Hot streak of 14-for-40 (.350) with a home run and seven RBIs over his last 10 games
Andrew McCutchen’s Impact (April 23 Game)
The veteran outfielder delivered a crucial three-run homer in the previous game. This home run marked his 237th with the Pirates organization, putting him just three behind the legendary Roberto Clemente for third place on the franchise’s all-time home run list.
Injuries
Los Angeles Angels
The Angels were dealing with several significant injuries:
- Ben Joyce (shoulder) – 15-day injured list
- Yoan Moncada (thumb) – 10-day injured list
- Sam Bachman (upper body) – 15-day injured list
- Robert William Stephenson (elbow) – 60-day injured list
- Anthony Rendon (hip) – 60-day injured list
The absence of Rendon and the recent acquisition Moncada particularly hampered the Angels’ infield and offensive capabilities.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh’s injury list was even more extensive:
- Tim Mayza (shoulder) – 15-day injured list
- Endy Rodriguez (finger) – 10-day injured list
- Colin Holderman (knee) – 15-day injured list
- Jared Jones (elbow) – 60-day injured list
- Nick Gonzales (ankle) – 10-day injured list
- Spencer Horwitz (wrist) – 10-day injured list
- Johan Oviedo (elbow) – 60-day injured list
- Dauri Moreta (elbow) – 60-day injured list
The Pirates were particularly affected by pitching injuries, with three pitchers on the 60-day IL with elbow issues.
Analysis of Previous Series Games
Pirates Victory on April 23: Hit Parade
The Pirates dominated Tuesday’s game with a 9-3 victory, recording a season-high 18 hits. Fifteen of these hits were singles, the most by the Pirates in a single game since May 17, 2016. Six different Pirates batters recorded multi-hit games, demonstrating balanced offensive production throughout the lineup.
Game Recap (9-3)
The Pirates (9-15) aimed to maintain their offensive momentum in Anaheim against the Angels (11-11), and succeeded handily with consistent pressure throughout the game.
Andrew McCutchen’s Home Run
McCutchen delivered a decisive blow with a three-run homer to left-center field in the fourth inning, providing critical separation in what had been a close game.
Starting Pitchers from Previous Games
Pirates: Andrew Heaney
Heaney was the starter for the April 23 game, entering with a 1-1 record and an impressive 2.13 ERA. He was coming off his first win of the season against the Nationals. The veteran left-hander had recently demonstrated improved stamina, pitching beyond the seventh inning for the first time since August 2020. Heaney ranked among the National League’s best in WHIP (0.91), opponent batting average (.191), and ERA. Against his former team, the Angels, Heaney had previously compiled a 1-1 record with a 6.53 ERA in six appearances (four starts).
Angels: Jack Kochanowicz
The Angels countered with Kochanowicz, who entered with a 1-2 record and a 6.20 ERA. After a promising start to the season, he had struggled in his two most recent outings, raising concerns about his consistency.
Hitter Performance Against Opposing Pitchers
Angels Hitters vs. Heaney
Several Angels batters had previous experience facing Heaney:
- Tim Anderson: 6-for-19 (.316)
- Jorge Soler: 1-for-15 (.067)
- J.D. Davis: 4-for-13 (.308)
- Taylor Ward: 0-for-10 (.000)
- Travis d’Arnaud: 4-for-6 (.667)
- Logan O’Hoppe: 3-for-5 (.600)
- Zach Neto: 2-for-5 (.400)
- Luis Rengifo: 2-for-3 (.667)
Despite Heaney’s strong start to the season, several Angels hitters had historically performed well against him.
Pirates Hitters vs. Kochanowicz
No data was available regarding the current Pirates batters’ performance against Kochanowicz, likely due to limited previous encounters.
Facts and Anecdotes
Andrew McCutchen and the Pirates Home Run Record
McCutchen’s home run was his 237th with the Pirates, positioning him just three behind Roberto Clemente for third place on the franchise’s all-time home run list. This pursuit of a franchise record added historical significance to the series.
Pirates’ Hit Streak
The 15 singles recorded by the Pirates in the April 23 game represented their highest single-game total since May 17, 2016, highlighting an exceptional offensive performance.
This series provided an important early-season test for both teams as they worked to establish momentum in their respective divisions. The Pirates’ offensive explosion in the second game demonstrated their potential despite their overall record, while the Angels continued to search for consistency amidst injury challenges.
Pirates 9-3 Angels (Apr 22, 2025) Final Score – ESPN
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Los Angeles Angels – News – April 23, 2025
