Pittsburgh Pirates Swept By St. Louis Cardinals as Woeful Play Continues
By Marty Leap
Michael Chavis is one of the few Pirates earning their keep this season
After he was acquired from the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline last July it did not take Michael Chavis long to start to turn heads with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Chavis hit well for the Pirates down the stretch last season and his hard play made him popular with fans.
This season Chavis has seen playing time at first base, second base, third base, and he can play the corner outfield spots. His ability to play all over the field is a big reason why Chavis needs to be playing every day.
Another reason Chavis needs to play every day, and the biggest, is his performance at the plate. After collecting 2 more hits in Sunday’s loss, Chavis owns a .301/.324/.505 slash line on the season. He has a 131 wRC+ and a .204 isolated slugging (ISO). His wRC+ leads the Pirates while his ISO is second only to Daniel Vogelbach.
Over the weekend Chavis was 6-for-14 with a double and a solo home run. He has also started ot improve against right-handed pitching, which was the biggest thing holding him back from being an every day player.
Chavis is already 26-years-old, but is a former a first-round pick. For the first time in his career other than 2019, when he hit 18 home runs to go with a .190 ISO, Chavis is being given regular playing time and it appears to be paying off. The Pirates may have a late bloomer on their hands in Chavis, and there is no reason for him not to play every single day.