The Pirates’ June wasn’t clean, but it kept them in the fight.
Pittsburgh closed the month at 11-15, its first full month under .500 this season, yet the club still sits at 43-43 after 86 games. That leaves the Pirates 2.5 games out in the National League Wild Card race and still positioned to chase a postseason spot.
The biggest reason they stayed afloat was the offense, which carried the month and earned the top grade. Pittsburgh hit .271/.341/.474 for an .815 OPS across 26 games, piling up 237 hits, 51 doubles, 40 home runs and 133 RBI. Those were month-best marks for doubles, homers, RBI, batting average, slugging percentage and OPS.
Bryan Reynolds kept doing Bryan Reynolds things, posting a .293/.386/.525 line with a .911 OPS in June. Spencer Horwitz also continued to produce, batting .260/.379/.425 with an .804 OPS.
What really stood out was the way the bottom of the order and the less-established pieces filled in when injuries hit. With shortstop Konnor Griffin, center fielder Oneil Cruz and Horwitz sidelined, Jake Mangum stepped into center field and hit .329/.345/.400 for a .745 OPS. Endy Rodríguez took over as the everyday catcher and delivered a .270/.352/.540 line with four home runs and an .892 OPS.
The rookie production showed up, too. Tyler Callihan hit .241/.323/.500 with three home runs and an .823 OPS, while Esmerlyn Valdez closed the month with a burst that was hard to miss - four home runs in four games, a .406/.472/.906 slash line and a 1.378 OPS. Ryan O'Hearn returned from injury and hit five home runs, and Brandon Lowe added six more of his own.
That mix of young contributors and veteran power has given Pittsburgh a lineup that can go 1-through-9 and look the part of a playoff team.
The problem is the pitching never matched it in June.
Pittsburgh’s rotation finished the month with a 4.72 ERA, a step back from a 3.82 ERA in March/April and a 3.74 mark in May. The bullpen slipped even further, posting a 5.34 ERA after sitting at 3.74 in March/April and 4.55 in May.
There were some encouraging signs in the rotation. Mitch Keller has been better over his last three starts, carrying a 3.63 ERA in that span.
Bubba Chandler has also settled in recently, putting together five outings with a 2.82 ERA. Paul Skenes has been better than he was late in May, though he’s still looking for that one dominant start to get fully back on track.
Braxton Ashcraft had one rough stretch bookending the month, with his first and last starts combining for 11 earned runs. Jared Jones is back in the rotation, but not yet at his best, and his 4.79 ERA reflects the search for consistency since returning from long-term injury.
The bullpen, though, remains the real concern.
Closer Gregory Soto had a brutal June, finishing with a 13.50 ERA over 7.1 innings in nine appearances. He blew two saves, including the June 3 loss to the Houston Astros at Daikin Park, when Pittsburgh led 9-5 in the eighth inning before falling 11-9 after Soto allowed three runs. He also gave up Eugenio Suárez’s three-run homer on the final strike in a 9-7 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on June 27.
The relievers were hit hard in other spots, too. Pittsburgh allowed 15 earned runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers at PNC Park from June 9-11, and the offense had to keep answering. Mason Montgomery posted a 6.52 ERA, while rookie Brandan Bidois struggled to a 9.52 ERA.
There are at least some signs of a better group taking shape. Dennis Santana has found some form, Yohan Ramírez has pitched well, and Carmen Mlodzinski is now working as a full-time reliever after starting the first two months.
Even so, the Pirates still need more help at the deadline, especially in the bullpen, and they’ll be hoping for internal improvement before then.
In Other News...
Pirates Dream Trade Comes With One Massive Catch
The idea of the Pirates swinging big for Adley Rutschman has all the appeal of a true deadline dream. If the Orioles decide the catcher is available, Pittsburgh would be looking at a player with a proven offensive track record and the kind of defensive reputation that can change the feel of a pitching staff. Former Pirates infielder Josh Harrison has already weighed in on the fit, and journalist Noah Hiles has pointed out why the fit makes sense for a club that has spent years searching for stability behind the plate.
The catch is that this is not the kind of trade to treat as a simple star-for-prospect swap. Rutschman is still in arbitration, which means his value does not stop at this summer, and any deal would likely come with a steep cost in young talent. The Pirates also have their own catching picture to sort through, with Endy Rodrguez offering offense and Henry Davis still searching for more at the plate, so adding Rutschman would reshape the depth chart even before the price tag comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Suddenly Have A Paul Skenes Problem They Can't Ignore
Paul Skenes has gone from overpowering opposing lineups to looking alarmingly human, and the latest stumble only sharpened the concern inside a Pirates rotation that has leaned on him heavily. In his most recent start, he was tagged for eight runs in four innings, a harsh line for a pitcher whose fastball has long been the headline. Even more jarring, the velocity has backed up from the premium power he showed earlier in the season, the kind of drop that immediately gets attention in Pittsburgh.
The Pirates now have to decide how seriously to treat what they are seeing and how much risk they want to take on with one of the most important arms in the organization. A closer look at his workload and condition is clearly on the table, and any delay in finding answers only increases the pressure on the rest of the staff. If Skenes cannot get back on track quickly, the ripple effects could be felt by Bubba Chandler, Jared Jones, Braxton Ashcraft and Mitch Keller, all of whom would suddenly matter even more. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Are Sending A Big Message With Konnor Griffin At Shortstop
Konnor Griffin is easing back into the Pirates lineup in a way that says plenty about how the club views his place on the infield. After a rehab assignment and a quick return to the majors, Griffin has already shown he can help offensively, and hes set to start at shortstop for a second straight game against the Phillies as Pittsburgh keeps giving him more responsibility.
Manager Don Kelly said there is a plan to build Griffin back toward playing every day at shortstop, which makes these starts about more than just filling a spot for the night. Griffin has already chipped in with a leadoff homer and other useful contributions since coming back, and the next step is seeing whether the Pirates are ready to lean on him more consistently as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]