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Forming the best possible second half lineup for the Pittsburgh Pirates

What does the best possible lineup for the Pittsburgh Pirates look like as we head into the second half of the year?

ByNoah Wright|
Jul 3, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz (left) celebrates with designated hitter Andrew McCutchen (22) after Cruz hit a game winning walk off single to win the game against the St. Louis Cardinals in ten innings at PNC Park. The Pirates won 5-4 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 3, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz (left) celebrates with designated hitter Andrew McCutchen (22) after Cruz hit a game winning walk off single to win the game against the St. Louis Cardinals in ten innings at PNC Park. The Pirates won 5-4 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports | Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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Center Field: Jack Suwinski/Michael A. Taylor

After hitting 26 homers and posting a 112 wRC+ with solid defense in center field last year, Jack Suwinski looked like he could be a big cog in the Pirates' lineup this year. Unfortunately, he hasn't lived up to his expectations, batting just .184/.265/.336 with a .265 wOBA and 68 wRC+ through 250 plate appearances. Suwinski's isolated slugging percentage has dropped from an elite .230 mark last year to just .150 this season. While he's cut down on K's, trimming his K% down below 30% at 28.8%, his walk rate has also plummeted to 9.6%, compared to 14% last year.

Suwinski had +3 outs above average last year with most of his playing time coming out of center field. This year, he has -7 OAA while splitting his time between left and center. Playing up the middle more frequently, rather than moving around the outfield, should help Suwinski out. Suwinski has been a lot better in July. He has stepped to the plate 28 times this month with eight hits, including three homers, two walks, and a half-dozen strikeouts.

Michael A. Taylor has also been a disappointment with the bat. He swatted 21 home runs with a 96 wRC+ in 2023. Now, he is batting just .201/.258/.272 with a .238 wOBA and 50 wRC+ through 190 trips to the plate. Taylor had an ISO of .223 last year, but has seen that take a nosedive to just .071. He's striking out at a career-high 34.7% rate while only walking 7.4% of the time.

Of the few positives, Taylor has been great defensively. He has +6 DRS and +7 in less than 500 innings out of center field. He is still in the 94th percentile of arm strength, as his throws average 91.7 MPH. Unfortunately, fielding well has been the only thing Taylor has been able to consistently do at an above-average level this year.

Center field is easily the weakest position on the Pirates' roster right now. Both Taylor and Suwinski have massively underperformed expectations. Hopefully, they get it back on track, or the Pirates bring in someone else to help tow the load up the middle.

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