What a weird start from Falter. This game was delayed due to rain and then a spot shower turned into a monsoon briefly during the second inning. Luckily for Falter, he only had to deal with the spot shower while Clay Holmes fell victim to the monsoon. Nevertheless, he had absolutely no idea where the ball was going for the entirety of his start and was mercifully pulled in the fourth inning with the bases loaded. Luckily for him, his bullpen held the Mets at bay and kept all of those inherited runners off his ledger. He’s lined up for a two-start week coming up against the Reds and Brewers with both starts coming at home.

Only six of the 17 balls in play against Falter were hit hard and most of them just barely (four were in the 95-99 mph range). It’s Falter’s fourth quality start and second win in eight turns this year. He has a 4.36 ERA, which is pretty much what the Pirates should have been counting on. He’ll get the Mets next.

Falter was outstanding against the Padres. He had scattered just one hit and two walks over six scoreless innings before Manny Machado took him deep for a solo homer to tie the game in the seventh. Falter struck out a season-high six batters on the day. The 28-year-old left-hander will take a 5.06 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and a 28/11 K/BB ratio across 37 1/3 innings into a start against the Braves in Pittsburgh on Friday.

Falter’s middling arsenal doesn’t really hold up very well against lineups like the Dodgers’ starting nine. He also gave up seven runs to the Yankees earlier this season. He has a 3.28 ERA against the Marlins, Reds, Nationals and Angels, though. He’ll face the Padres next.