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Pittsburgh Pirates: Pitching Falters as Team Swept in Milwaukee
Over the weekend the Pittsburgh Pirates watch their pitching staff struggled as they were swept in a three-game series against the Brewers in Milwaukee
Throughout the 2021 season the starting rotation has been a work in progress for the Pittsburgh Pirates. That said, the bullpen has been among the best in the National League. This has led to the Pirates being largely successful when they hand a lead or a tied game to the bullpen.
While the Pittsburgh Pirates have struggled to hand a lead or a tied game to the bullpen. This past weekend the Pirates went to the bullpen in a close game in each of their three contests. Despite this, due to a rare poor weekend by the Pirate bullpen the team was unable to find any victories.
After being swept in a three-game weekend series in Milwaukee the Pittsburgh Pirates now own a 23-41 record on the season. This puts the Bucs last place in the National League Central and gives them the second worst winning percentage in the National League.
As we attempt to breakdown the weekend series for the Pirates it all starts and ends with the pitching. This is due to the results from the Pirate pitching staff over the weekend simply not being good enough to compete in a series.
Starting rotation was good enough for a series victory
Chase De Jong started for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night and kept the Pirates in the game. In 5 innings pitched De Jong limited the Brewers to just 2 earned runs on 4 hits. He walked 4 and struck out a pair. While the Pirates lost on Friday night, De Jong was not the reason why as he turned in one of two strong starts over the weekend for the Pirates.
Saturday afternoon the Pittsburgh Pirates received their lone poor start of the series. Chad Kuhl’s woes continued as he was tagged for 6 runs on 5 hits, 4 walks and he hit a batter, while striking out just a pair, in 3.1 innings of work. On the season, Kuhl now owns a 6.52 ERA, 6.50 FIP a 15.1% walk rate and a strikeout rate of just 16.5%.
Sunday afternoon Wil Crowe, making his return to the starting rotation, turned in one of his best starts as a member of the Pirates. The righty allowed back-to-back hits to start the game, which led to a Brewer run, but he retired the next 13 batters faced.
After retiring 13 in a row, Crowe walked a batter to lead off the 6th inning before being pulled. This runner came around to score after Crowe was pulled from the game setting his final line at 2 runs allowed on 2 hits, a walk and 8 strikeouts in 5+ innings pitched.
For most of the season the Pirate starting rotation has simply not been good enough to compete. This past weekend, however, the rotation pitched well enough to win the series with strong starts from De Jong in game one and Crowe in game three. Unfortunately, the bullpen let them down with a rare poor series.
Rare poor series for the bullpen
Few things have gone right for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season. One thing that has is the Pirate bullpen, which has been among the best in the National League. However, this past weekend the bullpen was arguably the biggest reason the Pirates were swept by the Brewers.
In 10.2 innings pitched this weekend the Pirate bullpen allowed 8 runs on 8 hits, 7 walks, a home run and 14 strikeouts. Saturday afternoon the bullpen pitched well allowing just 1 run in 4.2 innings of work, however, they also allowed an inherited runner to score. Friday night and Sunday afternoon the bullpen can be pinpointed for the loss.
Entering this series Clay Holmes had been one of the best relievers out of the Pirate bullpen this season. Holmes was riding a 14 outing scoreless streak, including having allowed just 1 run in his last 20.1 innings pitched, entering the series.
Holmes pitcher in both Friday and Saturday’s games, allowing 6 runs on 3 hits and 4 walks in a combined 1 inning of work. Entering the series Holmes had allowed just 8 earned runs and walked just 9 batters all season. Holmes also allowed an inherited runner to score over the weekend, which is something he has not done much of this season.
It was not just Holmes who experienced uncharacteristic struggles over the weekend. Sam Howard who has been nearly un-hittable this season allowed a solo home run on Sunday. David Bednar, who has also been lights out, allowed a 2-run home run on Sunday after inheriting a 2-1 lead in the 6th inning.
Ben Gamel has a big series against his former team
Ex-Brewer outfielder Ben Gamel was arguably the best hitter of the series for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Gamel capped his strong weekend performance off with his game yet as a Pirate, going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles in Sunday’s loss.
Gamel kicked the series off by hitting his 1st home run as a Pirate. Friday night Gamel gave the Pirates an early 1-0 lead with a 2nd inning home run. Unfortunately, this early lead is one the Pirates could not hold onto.
Over the weekend Gamel was 4-for-8 with a home run and a pair of doubles. He also drove in a run and struck out just once. This continues a recent hot stretch for the left-handed hitting outfielder.
In his last 67 plate appearances Gamel has now hit for a .267/.313/.467 slash line. This includes a healthy 13.4% extra base hit rate, as he has hit a home run, a triple and collected 7 doubles during this stretch. Gamel has also played strong defense for the Pirates in both left and center field during this stretch.
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With the Pirates struggling to get any sort of consistent production out of either the left field or right field position, if Gamel continues to hit well he could find his way into play in on a near daily basis for the Pittsburgh Pirates. A season-ending injury to top outfield prospect Travis Swaggerty could help open the door for more playing time for Gamel as well. Gamel could prove to be a quality fourth outfielder for the Pirates in 2021 and beyond.