Pirates' Series Recap: Offense Options for Pirates; Swept by Cardinals
Four runs in three games, including one run in the series' final two games, and one run with the best young pitcher in MLB taking the ball for you. Overall, the Pirates have lost seven consecutive games and nine of their last ten. The team is 14 games under .500 in 36 games. Does anyone in the organization, other than the players, care? It sure doesn’t seem like it.
Travis Sawchick, MLB writer for “The Score,” posted on X:
“It’s would be insane to say that landing 1-1 pick and picking Paul Skenes would be a bad outcome for any club. But being awarded a lottery ticket does expose a club if it’s not willing to be serious. Expectations are raised. If inaction follows, coupled with a lot of losses, animosity increases.”
Right now, the Pirates are a public relations joke on and off the diamond. People are getting hurt at the ballpark, ushers are fighting fans, and bricks are being thrown out, just to name a few things. It is time for Owner Bob Nutting to wake up and do something about it. Moves need to be made. No one cares about “Instagramable Moments.” If you aren’t going to spend a lot of money on players, find a general manager who knows how to scout and evaluate the right players. Find a manager who can push the right buttons. Ben Cherington and Derek Shelton need to be gone…TODAY.
For the Black & Gold's series with the Cardinals, it was much the same. There was very little offense, and when the offense did show up for an inning, the pitchers gave the lead right back.
TOO MANY PITCHES
Even on his not-so-good days, Paul Skenes is a force on the mound. On Tuesday, Skenes gave up just two earned runs on three hits. However, he tied his career-high in walks with four. He threw 102 pitches over six innings, including an eight-pitch sixth inning.
While the Pirates’ Ace is still getting his strikeouts, he can’t record them as efficiently. In 2024, Skene’s K% was 33.1, which has gone down to 24.8% in 2025. His chase rate is also down to 28.7 percent from 30.9 percent. John Wehner mentioned an interesting point of view during Skenes' start. Last season, Skenes used his “Splinker” to get the ball over the plate whenever he needed. He would throw it in any count. Hitters have a hard time catching up to his fastball. Could batters be sitting on the Splinker and taking advantage of it?
Opposing players are hitting .250 off the pitch with a whiff rate of 23.1 percent, higher than only his sinker in 2025. In 2024, his whiff rate on the Splinker was 29.3 percent with a putaway percentage of 26.7, the second highest of his arsenal. Paul landed the first punch, butt he opposing teams are punching back.
CAN WE DRIVE IN SOME RUNS?
The Pirates have 12 RBI through seven games in May. Dodgers’ first baseman, Freddie Freeman, has had 12 RBIs in just six games. Some may be shocked, but things can't get much worse when Enmanuel Valdez is batting cleanup in your lineup. Pittsburgh is tied with the Baltimore Orioles for the second fewest RBIs in the month of May. The only team that has less are the Colorado Rockies.
Everyone in Pittsburgh was calling for Andy Haines' head last season. The Texas Rangers, who are underperforming thus far, have already fired their Offensive Coordinator this season. Cherington mentioned in his media availability on Sunday that there has to be urgency. Well, where is it?
WHAT’S UP WITH BREY?
It is time to start asking…is there something going on with Bryan Reynolds? After Wednesday’s game, Reynolds' average is down to .219. His metrics aren’t showing well either, according to Baseball Savant. All three of his Batting Run Value, Baserunning Run Value, and Fielding Value are in the negatives. When Reynolds is good, he is outstanding. When he is struggling, things can get pretty nasty. Reynolds has tended to heat up as the year goes on, and we can only hope he finds something that can send him on a hot streak.
YOUNG HAYES
While Ke’Bryan Hayes hasn’t hit for much power this season with only one home run, he has consistently put the ball in play and gotten on base. His batting average of .257 doesn’t quite show how well he hits the ball. His squared-up percentage is over 33 percent, in the 91st percentile. His hard hit rate is also above average, at 47.6 percent.
Hayes’ glove, which we have never doubted, has been up to par this season. His fielding run value is 3, which is in the 92nd percentile. It has become quite clear that this is who Hayes is. If he can be a consistent doubles hitter, driving the ball into the gaps, maybe the home runs aren't necessarily needed.
UP NEXT
The Pirates will return home on Friday to take on the Braves. Atlanta, which started the season losing eight of its first ten games, now has a record of 17-19 and has climbed into third place in the NL East.
Currently, the probables haven;t been announced for the series, but, for the Pirates, the rotation spots that are due up are Bailey Falter, Andrew Heaney, and Carmen Mlodzinski. However, will Sunday be Bubba Chandler time? Chandler threw on Thursday, but with the off day, would be on regular rest come Sunday.
