Pittsburgh Pirates: Starting Pitching Struggles & More Takeaways From Embarrassing Series Loss vs A's

Something needs to be done about Roansy Contreras, two relievers in the bullpen do not belong in the majors, and more takeaways from the Pittsburgh Pirates embarassing series loss agaisnt the Oakland A's

Each Major League Baseball team will suffer bad series losses over the course of a season. The 2023 Pittsburgh Pirates have already had a few of those this season where they have lost series that they should have won.

In their latest series, however, the Pirates suffered a bad series loss for the ages. Facing arguably the worst team in MLB history the Pirates lost two of three at home to the lowly Oakland A's. This includes being blown out on Tuesday night and falling behind 7-0 just one out into the game on Wednesday afternoon.

This pathetic, embarassing series loss has dropped the Pirates to 32-29 on the season. In the 18 series they have played this season they are now 9-8-1. To say the team neds to use Thursday's off day to regroup would be a massive understatement.

Before looking ahead to this weekend's three-game series at PNC Park agaisnt the New York Mets we will revisit the disaster that was agaisnt Oakland one last time. Here are takeaways from the Pirates series loss against the A's.

Roansy Cotnreras needs to figure something out

Last year at this time all signs pointed toward Roansy Contreras being a budding top of the rotation arm for the Pittsburgh Pirates. After largely pitching well last season, Contreras entered 2023 with high expectations. Well, so far, he has not even come close to meeting those expectations.

Wednesday was just the latest in a string of poor outings for Contreras. Facing one of the worst MLB lineups you will ever see, the righy only got one out before being pulled out of the game. Contreras velocity was down, he routinely missed spots with two strikes, and struggled with control.

After getting ahead of each of the first two batters of the game 0-2, Contreras issued a walk and hung a pitch that was ripped for a single. It all went downhill from there. Contreras was charged with 7 runs on six hits, two walks, and a strikeout.

On the season Contreras now owns a 5.91 ERA, 4.76 FIP, 10.1% walk rate, just a 17.4% strikeout rate, and he's allowed home runs at a 1.12 HR/9 clip. When you considering the lineup he was facing, the start from Contreras on Wednesday was probably the worst I have ever witnessed from a MLB pitcher.

Something needs done with Contreras. Having him take his next turn in the starting rotation would only be doing him and the team both a disservice. Maybe it's a stint on the injured list. Maybe it's a trip to Triple-A to try and workout his fastball woes. Perhaps it's a trip to the bullpen for awhile. Regardless of what's done, the Pirates have to figure something out with Contreras.

Two relievers do NOT belong in the majors

While Contreras was charged with 7 runs in Wednesday's loss, not all of the runs scored with him on the mound. The last 2 of those 7 runs crossed the plate due to Rob Zastryzny issuing back-to-back bases loaded walks. Sure, Contreras put Zastryzny in a terrible spot by loading the bases with no one out, but a reliever simply can not walk a batter in that situation let alone two.

In Monday night's victory Zastryzny was terrible as well. He was summoned with the Pirates lead 4-3 in the 8th inning and quickly allowed the A's to tie it. He was pulled with just one out and two runners on base. Thankfully, Angel Perdomo was able to prevent any further damage.

Zastryzny owns a 4.97 ERA and a 4.86 FIP in 12.2 innings pitched this season. He's allowed 14 hits, walked 12 batters, and struck out just eight. He is showing why he was available as a minor league free agent this past offseason and that he does not belong on a MLB roster.

Believe it or not, Zastryzny is not the worst reliever in the Pirate bullpen. That distinction belongs to Chase De Jong. After allowing 6 runs on three home runs in 2 innings pitched on Tuesday night, De Jong now owns a 13.50 ERA, 11.05 FIP, and has surrendered 6 home runs in 11.1 innings pitched this season.

Both Zastryzny and De Jong need to go. Prior to the start of Friday's game against the Mets both of them need to be desiganted for assignment. It would be almost impossible for anyone to be worse than those two. The first reliever the Pirates should give the call to in order to replace them is Carmen Mlodzinski.

Mitch Keller stuck in a slump

Pirate ace Mitch Keller is in a slump. Through his first 10 starts this season Keller owned a 2.44 ERA, 2.68 FIP, 5.6% walk rate, 30.7% strikeout rate, and a 0.72 HR/9. Three starts later, his stats on the season are now a 3.60 ERA, 3.17 FIP, 6.3% walk rate, 28.6% strikeout rate, and a 0.90 HR/9.

Across his last three starts the Pirates are 2-1, but Keller has allowed 15 earned runs in 17.1 innings pitched (7.79 ERA). He's walked 8.6% of batters faced, struck batters out at just a 21.0% clip, and he's allowed three home runs (1.56 HR/9), leading to a 4.96 FIP.

In his start against the Giants some poor defense hurt Keller. He's also been hurt by batting avergae on balls in play across these three starts owing a .415 BAbip. In his start this series against the A's Keller struggled with his mechanics and release point.

Whatever is plaguing Keller, he and the Pirates need to figure it out. If this team is going to keep hanging around in the National League Central race they will need their ace to pitch like just that - an ace.