Pittsburgh Pirates Home Stand Report Card For 7/1-7/7

If the MLB playoffs were held during the first two weeks of July, the Pittsburgh Pirates would be in the midst of a dynasty.

For the third year in a row, the Pittsburgh Pirates have played their best baseball to date right around the time fireworks, hot dogs and summer blackouts reign supreme in our nation. After ending June with a setback in Milwaukee, the Pirates started July with seven games against the top two teams in the NL Central: four against the Cubs, and three more, once again, against the Brewers

Pittsburgh started the home stand with their most impressive win of 2019, maybe longer than that, in an 18-5 drubbing over the Cubs. Adam Frazier and Colin Moran each had five hits, and somehow neither managed to be the story of the night. The night instead belonged to Josh Bell, who hit three home runs (he’d hit two more before the end of the week). From there, the Pirates took two of the next three from Chicago and did the same against Milwaukee, bouncing back after losing the series opener, a 7-6, 10-inning thriller.

By the time the smoke cleared from the first half, Pittsburgh was right there in its division, just 2.5 games back of the somehow-still-in-first-place Cubs. The Pirates will start the second half with three games at Wrigley Field, and should they sweep the Cubbies, they may find themselves atop the Central.

It was a good week for Bucco baseball, and here’s a break down of how the team performed in each of baseball’s critical aspects.

Starting Pitching

While the Pirate offense has been fantastic, the starting pitching has been, well, just ok.

The home stand started with a rough outing from Trevor Williams. The Pirates scored 18 runs, however, so it didn’t matter too much that Williams gave up five, especially considering he helped himself with an RBI single.

The next night, it looked like Joe Musgrove was on his way to a gem, striking out four over the first three innings, but then the rains came and cut his outing short. Chris Archer was OK Wednesday, giving up three runs and, wait for it, two homers. On Independence Day, Jordan Lyles got shellacked for 10 hits and seven runs through four innings, further indicating that his dominance over the first two months is donezo.

Against Milwaukee, Steven Brault held his own before leaving early with an injury. The next night, the Pirates got another fine effort from youngster Dario Agrazal. The rookie allowed just two runs over six and showed that he’s capable of hanging in a big league rotation, which the Pirates may need him to do depending on how long Brault is on the shelf. Musgrove concluded the home stand with another good outing, although it featured two Jesus Aguilar bombs.

There’s reason for concern with the Pirates rotation. Archer hasn’t been the guy the Pirates sold the farm for, Lyles has been underwhelming since mid-May, and Brault going down after a stretch of good outings is a bummer.

This team can hit, and that is well established, so the staff doesn’t need to be great right now. There will come a time, however, when the bats slow down, and when that happens, the pitchers will need to step up.

C+

Offense

18 runs in one game, 12 in another, and no fewer than six in four of the remaining five. If the Pirates offense hasn’t established itself as one of baseball’s best, it’s not far off.

Adam Frazier is a suddenly a machine (hitting .625 in July to earn NL Player of the Week honors for the first and, probably, last time). Colin Moran is asserting himself as the man at the hot corner for the foreseeable future. Bryan Reynolds has cooled off somewhat but reminded us that he’s still a bad man with his game-winning three-run jack to send the Bucs into the All-Star Break happy, and Josh Bell… well, you know.

The Pirate offense won’t be this good forever. We won’t see another 18-run performance for another year or five. Right now, though, they are swinging the sticks as good as any other team in base all. Because of that this team, through all of its flaws and misfortune, are right there in the playoff picture.

A+

The Bullpen

Yes, the Pirate relievers got roughed up in the team’s two losses this home stand. Yes, Kyle Crick is struggling and almost blew Sunday’s game. For the most part, however, the bullpen has figured it out.

Richard Rodriguez still hasn’t allowed a run since May 30. Aside from his part in the 4th of July massacre, Clay Holmes has shown a lot of promise in middle relief, and he was dominant two days prior, striking out four over two innings. Felipe Vazquez couldn’t keep the game tied in the 10th inning Friday night, but I don’t think we should be too worried about that guy.

It looks like the Pirates will have to wait until close to the trade deadline to get Keone Kela back, and that’s unfortunate. With or without Kela, however, the relievers, aside from Dovydas “I really shouldn’t be in the majors” Neverauskas are an asset. In the first two months of the season, they were a liability. Change can be beautiful, friends.

B+