The Pittsburgh Pirates are heading into the All-Star break with a very different look than the one they carried last season, and the bats are the biggest reason why.
After struggling offensively a year ago, Pittsburgh has surged to the top of MLB in team batting average, runs batted in, runs scored and hits. Nick Gonzalez is leading the charge with a .308 batting average, while Brandon Lowe has paced the club in home runs and RBIs. That production has given a pitching staff that has not quite met expectations enough support to keep the Pirates above .500.
The week leading into the break wasn’t exactly soft. Pittsburgh had to deal with the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves and then the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers. The Pirates dropped the series against Atlanta, 1-2, but answered with a sweep of Milwaukee in a three-game home set.
That strong finish helped move them up in Bleacher Report’s latest power rankings. Kerry Miller pushed Pittsburgh from No. 16 to No. 11.
“The Pirates were dealt a major blow this week with rookie Konnor Griffin suffering a torn tendon in his ring finger. They've already placed him on the 60-day IL, so the earliest he would be eligible to return is roughly Labor Day.
But a different rookie, Esmerlyn Valdez, had one heck of a week with four home runs to ensure Pittsburgh entered the All-Star Break with a winning record for the first time since 2016. He now has a 1.084 OPS in 28 games played and could be a massive piece of their puzzle the rest of the way.”
Losing Griffin is a tough hit, but Valdez’s breakout week softened the blow. If Pittsburgh is going to keep pushing in the second half, it looks like the rookie will need to keep providing that kind of spark.
In Other News...
Pirates Make A Quiet Rotation Shift With Wild Card Pressure Rising
With the Wild Card race tightening, the Pirates are making a subtle but meaningful change to their second-half rotation as they head into a series with the Guardians. Jared Jones is set to open the series, Braxton Ashcraft will follow, and Paul Skenes will take the finale, giving Pittsburgh a front-loaded look with three arms the club believes can help steady a push that has little margin for error.
Mitch Keller is the one being nudged back, a move that gives him extra time before his next turn and buys the staff a chance to reset him after a difficult stretch. The timing matters for a team trying to maximize every start down the stretch, especially with Jones working under a pitch and innings limit as he returns from internal brace surgery and Ashcraft continuing to build on a season that has made him one of the rotations most reliable options. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Finally Getting Clarity On Key Injury Returns After The Break
The Pirates are finally getting a clearer picture on a few key injury returns as the schedule turns past the All-Star break, with Oneil Cruz and Spencer Horwitz both expected back before the end of July. Neither is likely to jump straight into the lineup right away, though, since both are slated for minor league rehab assignments first as they work back from a fractured left hand and a left hamstring strain, respectively.
There is also movement elsewhere on the injured list, where catcher Endy Rodriguez and reliever Evan Sisk are making progress in their recoveries. Wilber Dotel appears to be the closest of the group to rejoining the major league roster, giving Pittsburgh at least some reason to think the second half could bring a little more stability if the rehab steps go smoothly. [Read more 🡒]
Konnor Griffin Just Made Pirates Fans Care Even More About This Pick
Konnor Griffin already gave Pirates fans a reason to care about Derek Curiel, and it starts with familiarity. The two crossed paths on Team USA at the youth level, then both took the LSU route before turning pro, giving Pittsburgh a built-in connection between its top shortstop prospect and a new addition to the system.
Griffin was clearly energized by the pick, pointing to Curiels growth and the kind of impact he could eventually bring to the Pirates lineup. Beyond the personal link, Curiel arrives with a reputation for being a polished, versatile outfielder who can handle all three spots, which only adds to the intrigue around how Pittsburgh plans to use him moving forward. [Read more 🡒]