Tag: Big Homestand

Only one Pirate made the All-Star team, Paul Skenes. He is not even the best pitcher on the Pirates right now. Braxton Ashcraft has pitched better than Skenes, although it is closer than you think. Skenes does lead Ashcraft in FIP, WHIP, and strikeouts per nine. Ashcraft has pitched more innings and has a lower ERA. He is ahead of Skenes in ERA+. Nothing compares to Brandon Lowe being left off the All-Star team. The two second basemen on the team are Ozzie Albies and Luis Arraez. Lowe has a better WAR than both, and he is the best fielder of the group. Arraez has a better OPS than Lowe, but only by .16. I did not think I could make a case for Bryan Reynolds to make the team, but when you add up the numbers, Reynolds comes out ahead of Brandon Marsh, who is starting. He also compares favorably with James Wood because Wood is such a terrible fielder. His defensive runs saved is -4. Compare that with Pete Crow-Armstrong at +21. Reynolds is at +2, which is one of his better fielding seasons. All three Pirates simply fell victim to the fan voting. When it came to picking the reserves hitting seemed to be the biggest criteria. I don’t know what the Philadelphia fans saw in Brandon Marsh, but he finished 8th in the statistical comparisons of the seven outfielders that made it, along with Reynolds. Skenes is pitching Sunday, so Ashcraft could still be added to the team. There could be nagging injuries that could cause some players to drop out, allowing either Lowe or Reynolds to make the team. The selection process has always looked at star power rather than who is having the best year. I guess that’s why they call it an All-Star game.

There are six more games for the Pirates until the All-Star Game. For me, the Pirates have to win at least 2 of the six games. One thing the Pirates have going for them is that the Braves have just been mediocre since June 1st, going 12-15. They have had 11 games where they have given up 6 or more runs. They are not as fortunate when it comes to the Brewers; they are 21-12 during this same time frame. They have given up 6 runs 7 times during this stretch. Of course, the Pirates have not been exactly lighting it up during this time frame. They are 14-17 and have given up 6 runs or more a whopping 16 times. The Pirates have faced the Brewers only 3 times this year. If you are looking for some hope, the Pirates took 2 out of 3 from them in Milwaukee. The Pirates have 11 more games against the Brewers. If the Pirates could sweep the Brewers, it may make them start thinking a little too much when they are playing the Pirates. We have been talking about the minimum the Pirates have to do in order to stay in the wild card race at the break. The maximum they could do would be to win all 6 games and have an 8-game winning streak going into the break. Obviously, the pitching would have to find itself, especially against the Brewers. What do I think will happen? The Pirates will be the Pirates and go 3-3. It would be nice to be wrong and see them have an above .500 home stand. Time will tell.