The Next Ten Games Will Define The 2018 Pittsburgh Pirates

With 10 games remaining until the non-waiver trade deadline the Pittsburgh Pirates find themselves in a tough spot

No team in Major League Baseball entered the All-Star Break on more of a roll than the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Bucs went 8-2 in their final ten games before the break which included sweeping a five-game series against the previous first place Milwaukee Brewers.

Entering the break the Pirates own a MLB best six consecutive victories. This hot stretch has the team owning a 48-49 record, and sitting 5.5 games out of the second National League Wild Card spot.

Tonight, the Pittsburgh Pirates will start a three-game series at Great American Ballpark against the Cincinnati Reds. This series will kick off a 10-game stretch that will define the remainder of the 2018 season for the Pirates. Why? Because the non-waiver trade deadline is looming at the end of this stretch.

The Pirates are currently in no man’s land when it comes to the trade deadline. At 5.5 games out of a postseason spot the Pirates are close enough to give Neal Huntington the incentive to look to add to the current roster and make a postseason push. However, five teams stand between the Bucs and the second Wild Card spot making it the task of reaching that spot even taller.

More from Rum Bunter

While committing to being a buyer would be difficult to do in their current position, committing to selling would be as well. Shopping veterans such as Corey Dickerson, David Freese, Francisco Cervelli (if healthy), Ivan Nova, Jordy Mercer, and Josh Harrison makes sense for a variety of reasons. Shopping these players when the team is within shouting distance of a postseason spot is a tough sell to both the clubhouse and the fanbase, though.

This is why the next 10 games will define the remainder of the 2018 season for the Pirates.

If at the end of this 10 game stretch the Pirates are within three games of a Wild Card spot it will be impossible for them to sell. The only way they could move veterans in this scenario would be in exchange for Major League players that can help the current team.

Making a run to get within three games of a Wild Card spot in the next 10 games is not out of the question. Seven of these games come against the lowly Reds and Mets, with the other three being played in Cleveland against the Indians. Both the Reds and Mets are in last place in their divisions, they are a combined 26 games below .500, and the Pirates have gone 8-5 against these two teams this season.

Even if the Pirates find themselves contending for a Wild Card spot at month’s end, they still should not crazy at the deadline. They could use bullpen and bench help, as well as another starting pitcher. However, Neal Huntington should not get crazy in his efforts to add to the roster. No team should ever go all in just to try and earn a Wild Card berth.

Next: Comparing Oneil Cruz To Gregory Polanco

How the Pirates play the next 10 games will determine if the team is buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. Due to this, these 10 games will define the remainder of the 2018 season for the Pittsburgh Baseball Club.

Home/Pirates News