Pittsburgh Pirates Need to Stay Hot until the All-Star Break

Hit, Hit, and then Hit some more

The Pirates lead the entire MLB with a batting average of .294 in the month of June. That is a whole twelve points higher than the next closest team, the Boston Red Sox. While this statistic is bound to regress some in the upcoming months, the Pirates need to continue to hit well up until the all-star break. These key divisional games are just too important.

One number that shouldn’t regress is the Pirates .302 batting average with runners in scoring position during the month of the June. While this is only best for 6th in the MLB over this stretch, a .300+ average is more than enough to carry the Bucs to victory in most games.

This statistic is especially important for the Pirates who rely on small-ball, on-base percentage, and timely hitting. The Pirates are 26th out of 30 teams in home runs, but rank 28th out of 30 teams in plate appearances that end in strike outs. The Pirates put the ball in play and often create traffic on the bases, cashing in these base runners is key.