Rain Flushes Out Pirates; Mets Take Two
April 22 was the last time the Pirates scored more than four runs in a game. Out of those 20 games, the team scored four runs just five times. The Black & Gold were shut out or scored just one run six times. Over 23 days, the Pirates have a record of 6-14. Year six of the Ben Cherington regime, Cherington’s Sewickley estate is for sale. Is that a tell of what is coming in the coming days?
Compared to what the Pirates did in the season's first month, the Don Kelly era as manager has been much more watchable. Kelly seems to be pushing all the right buttons and has given the team a shot of energy they did not have in the final weeks under Shelton. He isn’t afraid to change things up. Such as Andrew McCutchen playing left field, Bryan Reynolds moving out of the two-hole, and most recently tonight, having Chase Shugart pitching with three ups, something that he hasn’t done in a Pirate uniform.
Pittsburgh salvaged the final game of the three-game series in Flushing. The team wasted great starts from Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller but was able to help Bailey Falter out with his shortest outing of the season, going just 4.2 innings on Wednesday.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH BRYAN REYNOLDS
Reynolds is now hitless in over 20 at-bats, and his average has dipped south of the Mendoza line at .194. He, along with Henry Davis and Jared Triolo, are three Pirate regulars batting under .200. BREY is batting just .036 in his last 28 at-bats, and .117 in his previous 60 at-bats.
His struggles seemed to come to the field on Wednesday, as he had a ball clank off his mitt on a sliding attempt that would have ended the inning. Fortunately for the Pirates, the miscue did not hurt, as Shugart got out of the inning unscathed.
BACK TO THE RUNNING BUCS
The Pirates were back to their running ways under Kelly, stealing four bases in the series. The aggression is welcomed after the team started the season leading MLB in stolen bases. The team did this without prolific base stealer Oneil Cruz, who missed the entire Mets series after getting hurt in extra innings against the Braves on Sunday.
Pittsburgh now has 49 stolen bases on the season, third in the Majors, and perhaps surprisingly, third in the NL Central alone as the Brewers (56) and the Cubs (50) are ahead of them. The top four base-stealing teams in MLB all call the Central home as the Reds have 48 stolen bases on the season, one behind the Pirates. Even in missing the last three games, Cruz still has the second-most stolen bases in MLB, and the most in the National League with 16, while being caught just once.
ShutAht
The Pirates shut out the Mets, as this was just the second time New York’s Senior Circuit Team has been shut out on their home diamond this season. Even with Bailey Falter making his shortest outing of the season, giving up three hits over 3.2 innings. However, the wet track may have played a role in that, as the field was not in good condition while Falter was pitching. The Pirates’ lefty was fighting for his footing all night, walking five batters, but reliever Chase Shugart was able to come in and throw 2.1 innings, giving up just one hit. Overall, the relievers gave up just three hits, including a clean inning from David Bednar, while striking out six batters and not giving up a free pass.
RISP? NOT HAPPENING
For the most part, the Pirates struggled with runners in scoring position, going 3-for-28 in the series, including an 0-for-13 in the middle game. Any hitting, let alone clutch hitting, has evaded the Pirates this season. The way the roster was constructed in the offseason meant that the team had to have some timely hitting to stack wins, which is a massive sign of why Pittsburgh has been one of the worst teams in terms of winning percentage this season.
With the lack of offense, the Pirates are tied with the Nationals for the fifth-worst run differential in the Majors. Pittsburgh is 6-10 in one-run games this season, which comes down to clutch hitting. The Pirates' 4.01 ERA is 18th in MLB, but they are surrounded by two powerhouses in Major League Baseball: the Los Angeles Dodgers are 17th with a 3.99 ERA, and the Cubs are 19th with a 4.02 ERA.
UP NEXT
The Pirates will travel to the eastern part of the state and Citizens Bank Park to take on the Phillies for a weekend series.
In Friday’s game, Andrew Heaney will take on Ranger Suarez. Heaney is sporting a 3.15 ERA and a 2-3 record. Suarez is 1-0, but has a 5.91 ERA.
