Those making the in-state trek to PNC Park won't see much of McCutchen on Friday night. McCutchen, who is typically the Pirates' designated hitter, will come off the bench; Pirates interim manager Don Kelly instead gave Bryan Reynolds the nod at DH.

Pregame analysis and predictions of the Houston Astros vs. Pittsburgh Pirates MLB game to be played on June 5, 2025 on ESPN.

Jared Triolo, who entered with a .152 batting average, had two of Pittsburgh’s five hits against him. Triolo drove a leadoff double in the third inning and scored on two groundouts. Valdez’s only other blip came in the fifth, when Triolo had the first of three straight two-out singles against him.