
It was a good weekend for the starting pitching
The starting rotation has not been the strength many expected this season. However, this weekend Pirate starters pitched well.
Friday night Jordan Lyles allowed just 1 run in 5 2/3 innings of work. If not for poor umpiring that cost him an inning ending strikeout and a bad defensive play by Adam Frazier, Lyles would’ve gone 6 complete. This was the first good start from Lyles since early May. Hopefully, it’ll spring board him to another good start or two allowing the team to flip him before the July 31st trade deadline.
Saturday night Joe Musgrove started in place of Trevor Williams who was scratched due to flu like symptoms. In yet another start that was impacted by a rain delay, Musgrove was excellent.
Musgrove allowed 1 unearned run in 6 innings of work. He walked a pair, struck out eight, and continued to be the team’s best starting pitcher this season. He now owns a 2.3 fWAR this season which already surpasses last year’s career high of 2.2, and is tied for 16th among starting pitchers in the National League. Big Joe has become the anchor of this staff.
On Sunday, Dario Agrazal continued his strong rookie campaign by holding the Phillies to 1 run in 6 innings of work. He ask recorded a career high five strikeouts.
In five starts this season Agrazal now owns a 2.25 ERA. He has also pitched at least 6 innings in four of these five starts. So far so good for the 24-year-old Panamanian in his MLB career.