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Rum Bunter’s 2018 Pittsburgh Pirates Preview: Marty
By Marty Leap
With the start of Major League Baseball’s regular season being just three days away, it is time to begin our yearly previews of the Pittsburgh Pirates here at Rum Bunter
The 2018 Major League Baseball regular season is almost here. On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Pirates will do battle with the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit to start a three-game season opening series.
2018 will be a season of change for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 137th edition of the Pittsburgh Baseball Club will be without superstar centerfielder, and face of the franchise, Andrew McCutchen for the first time since 2008 after an offseason trade that sent him to the San Francisco Giants. Furthermore, former ace Gerrit Cole is now a Houston Astro after a separate offseason trade.
While these moves have angered many fans who claim they will have nothing to do with the Pirates in 2018, the Bucs still have a talented roster for the 2018 season. This team may not be as good as the 2013, 2014, and 2015 clubs that made the postseason, but it will not be a 100-game loser as many fans and media members in Pittsburgh think either.
So, let’s dive into some predictions for the 2018 Pirates. Beginning with who will be the team’s MVP in 2018.