Pittsburgh Pirates: A Big Weekend For Kevin Newman & Other Takeaways From Sweep Of Cincy

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PITTSBURGH, PA – AUGUST 24: Trevor Williams #34 of the Pittsburgh Pirates delivers a pitch in the first inning during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on August 24, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. All players across MLB will wear nicknames on their backs as well as colorful, non-traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs inspired by youth-league uniforms during Players Weekend. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

A good weekend for the starting pitchers

As the old saying goes, ‘you’re only as good as your next day’s starting pitcher’. Well, for the Pirates, their starting pitchers set the tone this weekend.

Mitch Keller set the tone for the weekend with the best start of his MLB career on Friday night. For the first time in his six career starts Keller pitched into the 7th inning. He allowed just 1 run and struck out a career high nine.

Saturday night Trevor Williams turned in his best start since before he went on the injured list in May. In 6 shutout innings of work, Williams induced soft contact, kept the ball in the park, and had his best control since before being placed on the IL.

The worst start of the weekend came from Dario Agrazal on Sunday afternoon. He allowed 4 runs on seven hits, two walks, and five strikeouts in 5 innings of work. 4 runs in 5 innings of work from your fifth starting pitcher is not the end of the world by any means.

Also, the runs Agrazal allowed were not completely on him. With runners on the corners and one out in the 1st inning Colin Moran missed a ball that would have been a routine 5-4-3 inning ending double play. This led to Agrazal allowing 3 runs in the 1st inning. To his credit, Agrazal settled in after that and kept the Reds in check.

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