Pittsburgh Pirates: Team in Dire Need of Starting Pitching, More Takeaways From Series Loss

The Pittsburgh Pirates are in dire need of starting pitching and more takeaways from a series loss against the Cubs to cap off a disappointing homestand

Early in the week, it looked like the Pittsburgh Pirates would be able to put together a strong homestand and continue their recent improved play. Unfortunately, that would not prove to be the case as the team lost three of four at PNC Park against the Chicago Cubs.

Following the series loss, the Pirates are now 14-22-4 in the 40 series they have played this season. The series loss also continued their season long struggles against the Cubs, falling to 1-9 against their divisional foes this season. Overall, the Pirates are now 58-73 on the season which puts them 2.0 games ahead of the last place St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central.

Next up for the Pirates is a trip to Kansas City against the Royals. This three-game series, in theory, presents an opportunity for the Pirates to win some games as the Royals are arguably the worst team in baseball. Before we look ahead to their trip to Kansas City let's take one last look back at the Bucs dropping three of four against the Cubs with series takeaways.

Disappointing homestand

This homestand started on a strong note for the Pirates. To kick off their seven-game homestand the Pirates won the first two games, securing a series victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. At this pointed it appeared the Pirates were setting themselves up for a strong homestand.

Well, that would not be the case.

The Pirates lost their series finale against the Cardinals before dropping three of four to the Cubs. After going 1-4 in the final five games of the homestand, the Pirates finished the homestand just 3-4. This is a 3-4 that feels like a major letdown after the way the homestand started.

Also, the first game of their series against the Cubs was there for the taking. Shoot, there is an argument to be made that the Pirates not only could have but frankly should have won that game. Instead, it was a loss and the other two losses against the Cubs were non-competitive blowouts.

Disappointing.

The Pirates are in dire need of more starting pitching

It's not exactly breaking news to say the Pirates need more starting pitching. I mean, what baseball team doesn't? That said, the current state of the Pirate starting rotation is just flat out bad and unaceptable.

Mitch Keller started for the team in game two of the series on Friday night and pitched a gem. Keller pitched 8 scoreless innings in a 2-1 Pirate victory. Outside of Keller's start, things went very awry for Pirate starting pitching.

Rob Zastryzny worked as an opener for the Pirates in the series opener and Colin Selby in game three. Zastryzny pitched a scoreless 1st inning and Selby fired 2 scoreless innings. Andre Jackson followed Zastryzny by allowing just 2 runs in 6 innings pitched, but Osvaldo Bido was hit hard in his attempt to be the bulk guy on Saturday.

Using an opener on occasion is fine. In some instances it can be a good strategy for a team to deploy. However, the Pirates are leaning on it far too often right now. Especially when your options for bulk pitchers are the likes of Jackson, Bido, and Thomas Hatch.

Bailey Falter started on Sunday and struggled on his way to a Pirate loss. Falter pitched 4.2 innings, allowing 6 runs on seven hits, a walk, a home run, and three strikeouts, raising his ERA on the season to 5.04.

This offseason Ben Cherington needs to be very active in his pursuit of starting pitching help.

You're weekly reminder that Andy Haines must go

We'll gladly continue to beat this dead horse. Andy Haines needs fired. MUST be fired. There is ZERO reason for the Pirate hitting coach to spend another second as the team's hitting coach. But... we all know he isn't going anywhere.

Haines was a bad hitting coach with the Milwaukee Brewers and played a large role in Christian Yelich having some of the worst seasons of his career. Since coming to Pittsburgh, nothing has improve with Haines. There is little to no progress from Pirate hitters and the team's offense.

Against the Cubs the offensive struggles continued. Pirate batters went 5-for-31 with runners in scoring position in the series loss and left 24 runners on base. All while scoring just 13 runs in the four game series, barely 3 runs per game with 6 of the 13 coming in Saturday night's loss.

It's time. It's been time. It's beyond time.

Fire him.