B-Will returns
Williamson to face Pirates Tuesday
Brandon Williamson will make his first Major League appearance in 560 days Tuesday when the Martin County West graduate will take the mound as the Cincinnati Reds host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second game of a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 5:40 p.m. CDT at Great American Ballpark.
Williamson’s last regular season game was on Sept. 17, 2024. He had elbow surgery less than a month after that outing and missed the entire 2025 season.
The lefthander had a 2-0 record with a 1.65 earned run average in five appearances (three starts) during Spring Training in Arizona. In 16.1 innings he allowed three runs on 12 hits, walked three and struck out 15.
It will be Wiliamson’s third career start vs. the Pirates and the second at home. The other starts were both in 2023:
Aug. 13, 2023 (at Pittsburgh)
Starting in his eighth different MLB park, Williamson left the game with a 2-1 lead but wound up with a no decision as the Pirates rallied to win 4-2. The MCW grad went 5.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits, walking two and striking out six. He threw 88 pitches, 55 for strikes.
Sept. 24, 2023 (vs. Pittsburgh)
The left hander went 4.1 innings and was not involved in the decision in a 4-2 Reds win over the Pirates. He allowed two runs on four hits, walked one and struck out three.
Cincinnati won 2 out of 3 over the Boston Red Sox at home to start the season while Pittsburgh was 1-2 in New York vs. the Mets.
Righthander Bubba Chandler is scheduled to start for the Pirates. Chandler was 4-1 with a 4.02 ERA as a rookie last year.
The Reds will be in Minnesota for a three-game weekend series April 17-19 at Target Field. Friday’s game starts at 7:10 p.m. while the Saturday and Sunday games are both 1:10 starts.