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Pirates Need To Win Fifth Straight for First Time in 2014
By Tom Smith
Sep 18, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; A Pittsburgh Pirates fan waves a Jolly Roger flag after the Pirates defeated the Boston Red Sox for a three game series sweep at PNC Park. The Pirates won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Pirates have won 82 games in the 2014 season, but the Pirates have never won five in a row. Tonight, the Pirates need to change that. The Pirates need to win fifth straight for first time in 2014 when the Milwaukee Brewers come to PNC Park for a crucial game between two teams with their sights set on a postseason berth.
The Pirates are riding another four game winning streak after last nights victory over the Boston Red Sox. It seems like it was the millionth time it happened, but in reality it’s been seven times: September 5-8, August 26-30, June 21-24, June 11-14, May 21-24, May 6-10 and now September 14-18. Somehow, the Bucs have never won five games in a row in 2014.
Sep 18, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Starling Marte (6) hits a solo home run against the Boston Red Sox during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
There hasn’t been a better time to push their consecutive win streak to five than tonight at PNC Park. If hitting is truly contagious, the Pirates picked the perfect time of the year to start playing dominant baseball. In September, no team in Major League Baseball is hitting better.
Aug 29, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Josh Harrison (5) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park. The Pirates won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
If you look at this pile of stats from Fangraphs it shows the Pirates sitting atop Major League Baseball in September. No team has more WAR, no team has a better slugging percentage (heh, the Rockies just don’t count,) and no team has a better wRC+ than your Pittsburgh Pirates. It’s not just the Pirates offense that has picked up their game in September. The Buccos pitching staff leads Major League Baseball in K/9 in September according to Fangraphs. The Pirates are also first in ERA and third in FIP during the most important month, thus far at least, of the 2014 season.
Sep 18, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Mark Melancon (35) reacts after recording the final out against the Boston Red Sox during the ninth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The record shows the fruits of the Pirates labor as well, as the club is 11-2 in their past 13 games and hasn’t been hotter than they are when they need it most. The team is at their apex, sitting 12 games over .500 and are now twenty games over .500 since May 2 which is tied with the already playoff bound Washington Nationals for the best record in the NL.
Sep 18, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer (10) doubles against the Boston Red Sox during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
It all adds up to being the perfect time to slow down any fantasies that the Brewers have about snatching a Wild Card berth. The Bucs need to grab the first game of the series and shift the weight of the season onto the Brewers, who had scored just 52 runs in 17 September games at the time of this post. The Pirates putting up 82 wins has been very nice, but there isn’t a win bigger than number 83 right now for the Pittsburgh Pirates and it must happen tonight.