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Three Takeaways From a Gritty Series Win Over Baltimore

What have we learned about this team after a feel good home-opening weekend?

By Conlan DeLorenzo |
Edward Olivares walks it off on Sunday Afternoon vs. the Orioles
Edward Olivares walks it off on Sunday Afternoon vs. the Orioles / Justin K. Aller/GettyImages
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The Pittsburgh Pirates walked off the reigning AL East champion Baltimore Orioles for the second time in two days. To secure a series win over such a talented ballclub, in come-from-behind fashion no less, is an encouraging way for the Pirates to end their first home series of 2024. But what can this series teach us about Pittsburgh moving forward?

The Pirates On-Base Approach Keeps Games Close

Through eight innings on Sunday, the Orioles looked handily in control of the series finale. Dean Kremer allowed just one run on five hits and no walks while striking out six across seven innings while Keegan Akin turned in a three-up three-down 8th. However, the Pirates strung together two hits and a walk to load the bases against Yennier Cano in the 9th, setting up the walk-off fielder's choice from Edward Olivares.

The Pirates continued their patient at-bats as noted by Ethan Fisher during this series and still rank in the top 4 teams in terms of pitches per plate appearance according to Baseball Reference. Not only that, but the Bucs rank in the top six teams in runs/game, OBP, and OPS through the first 10 games of the season, trailing the likes of the Dodgers, Braves, and Rangers. This willingness to stay patient in the box especially when trailing in the late innings has helped the offense stay within striking distance and salvage two wins over a highly-touted Orioles club. Maintaining this approach across a 162-game season will lead to fun Pirates' baseball to watch if nothing else.

The Pirates Rotation Can Do Enough

While the performances from Bailey Falter and Marco Gonzales did not light up the radar guns like Jared Jones' home debut, they provided the stability that the Pirate's rotation often lacked last season. Against a potent O's lineup, Falter turned in six innings of one-hit work with one strikeout and one walk to match. Similarly, Gonzales pitched six innings with two earned runs, five hits, four strikeouts, and zero walks.

Neither of these starts were flashy swing-and-miss exhibitions, but they both limited bullpen use and kept the game close, allowing the offense to finish the game in dramatic fashion two days in a row. That being said, some of the advanced stats are not particularly kind to Falter, giving him a 6.40 FIP (a predictor of ERA) through his two starts. Even if this configuration of the rotation is a hold-over while fans await the promotion of Paul Skenes and potentially more young talents from the minor leagues, results like these can keep the Bucs competitive in the meantime.

Progress Report: The New Pirates Continue to Pull their Weight

Edward Olivares, Rowdy Tellez, and Aroldis Chapman each contributed in a significant way to this series, continuing to make their cases as valuable off-season additions. For his part, in addition to his aforementioned walk-off on Sunday, Olivares went 3 for 8 for the series with a walk, 2 RBI, and a double. Tellez meanwhile had a modest 3 for 12 series, with an RBI and a walk, but worked several lengthy counts and defensively served as the first basemen that this team has lacked in the past.

Aroldis Chapman made an appearance in Saturday's game, allowing one walk, but striking out two Orioles for a clean inning and a hold. While the Chapman signing may have raised a few eyebrows across the league, none of these additions were expensive or flashy, but each has been a meaningful upgrade to this team in the early going. If the Pirates continue to stay hot look for these newcomers to play important supporting roles around the maturing young core of homegrown talent.

Up next, the Pirates have a quick two-game slate at home against the Detroit Tigers coming off a series loss to the Oakland Athletics.

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