The Boston Red Sox wrap up their road visit to Pittsburgh on Sunday, August 16, when they send left-hander Patrick Sandoval to the mound against the Pirates' Lake Bachar at PNC Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 PM ET, with coverage available on NESN for Sox fans back home and SportsNet Pittsburgh locally. This is a late-summer regular-season game with playoff positioning implications — every win matters as the calendar closes in on September.
Red Sox vs. Pirates Game Preview: Sunday, August 16, 2026
Boston will look to Patrick Sandoval to eat innings and keep the offense in the game. Sandoval, a left-handed starter known for his ability to generate soft contact and work deep into ballgames, gives the Red Sox a credible arm against a Pittsburgh lineup that can be streaky. How he commands his off-speed stuff and limits damage in the middle innings will be the central story on the mound for Boston.
On the Pittsburgh side, Lake Bachar draws the start for the Pirates. Bachar is a name worth watching — opposing hitters who haven't seen him frequently can be caught off-guard early. The Red Sox lineup will need to stay disciplined, work pitch counts, and avoid getting too aggressive in his first trip through the order.
Keys to Watch for Boston
- Sandoval's command early: Left-handed starters who can establish the zone in the first two innings tend to control the tempo of the game. If Sandoval is locating, the Red Sox defense should be comfortable behind him.
- First-pitch strike rate against Bachar: Pittsburgh's starter is not a household name to most Sox hitters, which cuts both ways. Boston must resist expanding the zone early and instead make Bachar work.
- Situational hitting: PNC Park plays as a pitcher-friendly environment, particularly in its gaps. Stringing together two-out hits and converting runners in scoring position will likely be the difference in a low-scoring afternoon game.
- Bullpen management: With the dog days of August firmly in place, how both managers handle their relief corps in a potential tight, late situation deserves close attention from Boston's perspective.
Broadcast Information
Sox fans can catch the game on NESN on television or tune in on WEEI 93.7 FM on radio. Spanish-language radio coverage is available on WCCM 1490 AM and WESX 1230 AM.
Prediction
This shapes up as a pitchers' duel by circumstance more than design. Sandoval gives Boston a solid floor — he's the kind of starter who doesn't beat himself — and if the Red Sox offense can get to Bachar in the middle innings, this game is theirs to take. Expect a close, deliberate game that comes down to a handful of at-bats. Red Sox win, 4-2.
