Jones (3-5) took the loss in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader split with the Tigers, coughing up seven runs (five earned) on five hits and two walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out two.
The rookie right-hander didn't get much help from his defense, but he also didn't have his best stuff and failed to complete at least five innings for the first time this season. Jones' two strikeouts were also a season low, as he managed only four swinging strikes among his 83 pitches. The 22-year-old sports a 3.55 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 70:12 K:BB through his first 63.1 big-league innings. Jones will look to get back on track in his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Dodgers.
Jones and the Pirates will not play the Tigers on Tuesday due to inclement weather, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Tuesday's contest will be made up during a doubleheader Wednesday, and Jones will presumably pitch one of the two games. The 22-year-old right-hander owns a 3.05 ERA and 0.97 WHIP on the year, though he's allowed three earned runs in six innings during both of his last two outings.
Jones didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Giants, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks across six innings. He struck out five.
The rookie delivered a fourth consecutive quality start Wednesday and generated a double play in three separate innings to keep the Giants from putting a runner in scoring position until the fifth frame. In that fifth inning, Jones allowed a double and an RBI single to the first two batters he faced, then he surrendered a two-run homer to Matt Chapman in the sixth. Jones is one quality start shy of the league lead and holds a 3.05 ERA with a 68:10 K:BB across 59.0 innings. He's tentatively scheduled to face the Tigers in Detroit on Tuesday.
Jones (3-4) picked up the win over the Cubs on Thursday, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out seven over six innings.
Jones allowed hits in four of his six innings of work, including a solo homer off the bat of Ian Happ to lead off the second. However, the right-hander still managed to log his third consecutive quality start while also posting at least seven strikeouts for the seventh time in nine outings this season. Jones produced 15 swings and misses on the night, though his seven hits allowed marked a season high. He's won just two of his last six decisions despite carrying a 2.89 ERA on the campaign.
