The Pittsburgh Pirates are sitting at a .500 record through 26 games, but their performance has been far from predictable. Despite winning nine of their first 11 games, they have also lost nine of their next 11. The team’s best starting pitchers have been rookie right-hander Jared Jones and lefty Bailey Falter, who were not guaranteed spots in the rotation at the beginning of the season. On the other hand, the back end of the bullpen, which was expected to be a strength, has been inconsistent, with David Bednar and Aroldis Chapman struggling to find their rhythm.
Joey Bart, who was designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants, has been a surprising standout for the Pirates, batting .304 with three homers and eight RBIs in seven games. Andrew McCutchen, the team’s 37-year-old DH, has been more effective in the leadoff spot, hitting .417 with two homers, compared to his .176 average with one homer in the middle of the order.
The Pirates’ defense has been another area of concern, with errors by Ke’Bryan Hayes, Oneil Cruz, and Rowdy Tellez. However, Cruz has shown signs of improvement in recent games, and Alika Williams has been a solid utility player.
Despite the red flags, the Pirates have managed to win as many games as they have lost. If their key players can find their footing and the team can improve its defense, they could be a force to be reckoned with.
Here are some additional highlights and concerns for the Pirates:
Joey Bart, who will be facing his former team, the San Francisco Giants, for the first time since being traded, is downplaying the significance of the matchup, saying he’s focused on the process and competing with his current team.
Aroldis Chapman, who has struggled with his command, acknowledges that his performance has not met his expectations and that he’s working to improve.
Mitch Keller, one of the team’s All-Stars, has had a rough start to the season with a 5.14 ERA. Manager Derek Shelton believes Keller was rushing his delivery and couldn’t get in sync against the Brewers in his most recent outing.
Rowdy Tellez, who was signed to provide power, has struggled to produce, batting .183 with only one homer and six RBIs. He has also made some defensive miscues.
Oneil Cruz, who had a slow start to the season, has shown improvement in recent games, batting .462 with a double, two RBIs, and two walks in the series against the Brewers.
While the Pirates have their share of challenges, the emergence of young players like Jones, Falter, and Bart, as well as the potential of Cruz, provide some optimism for the future.
