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Pittsburgh Pirates Take Two of Three From the Struggling Cincinnati Reds
Despite getting their best pitching performance of the series in the series finale… the Pittsburgh Pirates once again came up short in their efforts to sweep a series
It’s no secret that the 2021 season has been a tough one for the Pittsburgh Pirates. On their way to a third consecutive last place finish in the National League Central the only real question that remains for the Pirates is will they finish with the third overall pick in next summer’s draft, or will they outdo the Texas Rangers on the field and earn the fourth overall selection.
Despite the team’s season long struggles, to their credit, the Pittsburgh Pirates have put themselves in a position to finish the season strong. After taking two out of three games from the Cincinnati Reds in a series at PNC Park the Pirates are now 5-2-1 in their last 8 series played and 12-13 in their last 25 games played.
While a 12-13 record in a 25 game stretch may not sound great, when a team is 54-92 playing .500 ball during a 25 game stretch is undoubtedly a step in the right direction. This stretch is also setting the Pittsburgh Pirates up to finish the season strong and build momentum entering the offseason.
Strong starting pitching
Tuesday night Dillon Peters took the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates. As Noah wrote about over the weekend Peters could prove to be a diamond in the rough find for Ben Cherington and the Pirates.
In the 6-5 Pirate victory Peters pitched 5 scoreless innings. He walked just 1 batter, allowed 5 hits, with only a Joey Voto double going for extra bases, while he struck out 5 batters. 57 of the 80 pitches he threw (72%) were for strikes.
Peters now owns a 2.66 ERA, 3.17 FIP, 7.8% walk rate, 19.6% strikeout rate and a home run rate of 0.38 HR/9 with the Pirates. These results have come in 23.2 innings pitched across 5 starts. While it is a small sample size, it is difficult to envision Peters not cracking the team’s Opening Day roster in 2022.
Mitch Keller toed the rubber for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night. Despite a shaky 1st inning, Keller settled in to pitch 5 strong innings in a 5-4 walk-off victory for the Pirates on Roberto Clemente Day.
Keller did not allow a run after the 1st inning, holding a potent Cincinnati lineup to just 4 hits, he walked a pair, struck out 3 and did not allow a home run. After the 1st inning Keller allowed just 4 base runners on a pair of singles, a walk and a HBP.
It was an encouraging start for Keller who quietly has a 3.56 FIP, 0.66 HR/9 and just a 6.6% walk rate in 40.2 innings pitched across 8 starts since returning from the minors on August 1st. While his 5.09 ERA during this stretch is not pretty it is also misleading. Outside of one poor start against the Cardinals in which he allowed 7 earned runs Keller’s ERA since returning from the minors is just 4.10. Nothing great, but definitely a step in the right direction for Keller who, if nothing else, with a strong September will likely guarantee himself one last chance in the Pirate starting rotation when the 2022 season begins.
Wednesday afternoon Connor Overton made the start for the Pirates. Working as an opener, Overton, who was recently claimed off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays, pitched 3 scoreless innings, striking out 3 and threw 31 of 42 pitches for strikes.
A team will take their starting pitchers only allowing 2 earned runs in a series any time. While you want to see more than 13 innings out of your starts, when one of the three starters was an opener that does adjust expectations some.
The legend of Yoshi Tsutsugo continues to grow
Since joining the Pirates in August first baseman/outfielder Yoshi Tsutsugo has done nothing but hit. Against the Reds it was another successful series for Tsutsugo who continues to make a strong case to be re-signed by the Pirates this offseason.
In the series victory over the Reds the left-handed hitting Tsutsugo was 4-for-10 at the plate. Tsutsugo also drew a pair of walks while collecting a double in the series, a double on which he was able to take third base on the throw from the outfield.
Tsutsugo is now hitting for a .296/.393/.690 slash line in 84 plate appearances with the Pirates. This includes 7 home runs, 5 doubles and a triple, he’s also struck out in just 19% of hit trips to the plate which is a low strikeout rate for a batter hitting for this much power.
When the season ends Tsutsugo is set to hit free agency. This should make him a top free agent target for the Pirates, especially with the National League appearing likely to add the designated hitter as part of the new collective bargaining agreement.
Even if the NL does not add the DH this offseason having Tsutsugo around would still be beneficial to the Pirates. He possesses the type of power that no other hitters other than Bryan Reynolds currently on the active roster have. Locking Tsutsugo up to a 1 or 2 year contract needs to be a priority for Ben Cherington this offseason.
Death, taxes, the 2021 Pittsburgh Pirates failing to complete a series sweep
Thursday afternoon was the 14th time this season the Pirates have had the opportunity to sweep a series. The Pirates have now been defeated in all 14 of these games. Somehow, someway the Pirates are 0-14 when trying to complete a series sweep this season.
Many of these losses have been frustrating ones. Thursday’s loss, however, was one of the most frustrating yet. The Pirates lost 1-0. Any 1-0 loss is a frustrating one as all it would have taken to at least force extra innings was 1 run. Throw in the Pirates wasting multiple scoring opportunities including Ben Gamel being thrown out at the plate in the 2nd inning on the contact play, which should be banned for its stupidity, when the Pirates appeared to have a golden opportunity to take an early 1-0 lead.
Even though the Pirates failed to complete the series sweep by winning the series they still hurt the postseason hopes of the hated Reds. After taking two of three in the series the Pirates knocked the Reds to being a game behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second NL Wild Card spot.
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The Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds have six more games against each other. This will give the Pirates a real opportunity to cost the Reds a postseason spot. In a season that is going to end with a bottom four record in MLB, costing one of your biggest rivals a postseason spot is a worthwhile consolidation.