Can the Pirates Turn Their Season Around?
The Pittsburgh Pirates began this season with another quick start to their 2024 campaign, marking their second consecutive season of this kind. With 10 wins out of their first 14 games this season, the Pirates appeared to be headed for a breakout year during the first three weeks of play. However, the Pirates have gone 7-17 in their previous 24 games. The Pirates are five games behind the Milwaukee Brewers, who are leading their division, in fourth place in the NL Central with a 17–21 record. The Pirates began last season very similarly, going 20-9 through their first 29 games before faltering and finishing with a 76-86 record, fourth place in their division, and missing out on the postseason for the eighth straight season.
Following their 5-4 loss to the Angels on Wednesday afternoon, the Pirates wrapped up a nine-game stretch against the Athletics, Rockies, and Angels, which appeared to be a grand opportunity to improve their record but the Pirates ended up going only 3-6. Several of the Pirates' top players have struggled to provide consistent productivity while in the lineup. Specifically, two of the Pirates' highest-paid batters, Bryan Reynolds and Ke'Bryan Hayes. Neither of them has been able to produce big offensive statistics; Reynolds is batting .240 with four home runs and 17 RBIs. Meanwhile, Hays has a batting average of .240, one home run, and 11 RBIs. Oneil Cruz (.252), Joey Bart (.195), and Jack Suwinski (.178) are all regulars in the lineup who have struggled to start the season in addition to Hays and Reynolds. The Pirates are currently ranked 24th in hits (281), 28th in home runs (27) and 27th in batting average (.220).
The pitching staff has been able to provide some solid work despite the team's concerning offensive output; they are ranked 11th in ERA (3.70), 15th in strikeouts (321), and have given up the 10th-fewest walks (113). With a 2.63 ERA and 52 strikeouts in his first seven starts of the season, rookie Jared Jones has been nothing short of remarkable in the rotation. Veteran Martin Perez has a 3.60 ERA and 36 strikeouts while 2023 All-Star Mitch Keller has a 4.41 ERA. It was reported on Wednesday that the Pirates will be calling up Paul Skenes to make his first career start against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, adding another talented member to the starting rotation. Skenes, 21, was selected first overall in the 2023 MLB Draft and has been one of the league's most highly touted pitching prospects. Skenes was a collegiate baseball player at LSU, where he assisted in leading the Tigers to victory against the Florida Gators in the College World Series in 2023. During his seven starts in Triple-A this season, Skenes has a 0.99 ERA, 45 strikeouts, eight walks, and just 17 hits allowed. The Pirates still have time to salvage their season with Skenes joining the starting rotation, if they can find a way to score runs and maintain strong pitching starts for the duration of the season.
