For Clint Hurdle, dissecting the pitfalls of his starting pitchers has become a postgame routine, and Friday night was no different.
Tyler Glasnow's latest major-league lesson was a disaster, as he allowed seven runs and lasted just four innings in the Pirates' 12-7 loss to the Marlins at PNC Park.
"The consistency of the execution, the lack of the execution, the failure of the execution," Hurdle said.
He has recited similar issues for two of his other starting pitchers in recent weeks. As a result, the Pirates' lifeline over the past month — the bullpen — is being worn down and an offensive performance like Friday's 13-hit barrage against the lowly Miami pitching staff was not enough.
"We seem to be in a lull right now," Hurdle said.
The loss dropped the Pirates to 26-35 — the first time they've been nine games under .500 since the season finale in 2011 — and six games behind the first-place Brewers despite having an offense that has the fourth-highest batting average in the National League over its past 21 games.
The problem lies in the rotation. The six starters used in 2017 have allowed the third-most hits in Major League Baseball, and opponents are batting .279 against them — the second-highest mark in the league. The rotation's 4.62 ERA ranks 20th and they rank 15th in innings, despite having one of the most effective starters in Ivan Nova.
"It’s tough," Josh Bell said of the rotation's struggles. "I feel like every game has come down to a couple pitches here and there, mistakes being capitalized on. ... It’s not like an overall assault. It’s cheap hits and whatnot. It’s a snowball effect at times."
