Pirates generating offense behind muscle and hustle
It wasn't long ago that the Pirates resembled a lost cause from an offensive perspective, ranking near the bottom of Major League Baseball in most categories, including home runs -- by a significant margin -- and runs scored.
A lineup that lacked slug and could barely score four runs per game to support one of the best pitching staffs in baseball looks a lot different nowadays. Take a look at the Pirates' 10-6 win over the Astros here tonight at Daikin Park, for example.
It wasn't just one or two guys contributing to a rare offensive outburst, and it wasn't just one way in which runs were being generated. EndyRodriguez, OneilCruz and BrandonLowe provided the muscle with home runs, while JakeMangum delivered the hustle with four hits, including a sixth-inning bunt single that forced an error and drove in a run, along with two stolen bases in a fourth straight victory. That's not to mention the three-hit night for NickGonzales, who now ranks sixth in MLB with a .312 batting average at this juncture of the season.
That's a decent amount of guys coming through to produce, and on a night where three other key contributors in Spencer Horwitz, Bryan Reynolds and RyanO'Hearn went a combined 1 for 11.
"We're taking good swings," Lowe said after belting his team-leading 15th home run, which ranks tied for the fourth-most in the National League. "Every one that you kind of look at, it's not the only thing they're trying to do. And when you look at a lot of other things as well, like Mangum having four singles today, putting bunts down. Even with Endy, when he's not hitting home runs, he's getting on base, stealing bags. Bryan's doing the same thing. Up and down the lineup, there were great at-bats."
There's no question the night-and-day difference between the Pirates offense of 2025 and the version we're seeing nowadays. This group, one that has plated 45 runs over the course of their ongoing four-game winning streak, has scored the fourth-most runs (311) in MLB, trailing the likes of the Braves (320), Dodgers (321) and Nationals (330). They've hit the 11th-most home runs (71), which is already a massive step in a better direction after finishing all of last year with 117 over 162 games, and have taken things a step further by putting together stellar numbers in other areas. The overall quality of their at-bats have led to the fifth-most walks (242) in MLB, while a more aggressive approach on the basepaths have them possessing the third-most stolen bases as a unit.
The Pirates still have a top-notch starting rotation led by Paul Skenes, Braxton Ashcraft and Mitch Keller, and a bullpen that continues to try to piece itself together. But the offense seems to be the biggest reason why they are currently sitting five games above .500 at 33-28 with a Wild Card spot in hand and the National League Central standings looking like this at the moment:
THE ASYLUM
Pirates generating offense behind muscle and hustle
It wasn't long ago that the Pirates resembled a lost cause from an offensive perspective, ranking near the bottom of Major League Baseball in most categories, including home runs -- by a significant margin -- and runs scored.
A lineup that lacked slug and could barely score four runs per game to support one of the best pitching staffs in baseball looks a lot different nowadays. Take a look at the Pirates' 10-6 win over the Astros here tonight at Daikin Park, for example.
It wasn't just one or two guys contributing to a rare offensive outburst, and it wasn't just one way in which runs were being generated. Endy Rodriguez, Oneil Cruz and Brandon Lowe provided the muscle with home runs, while Jake Mangum delivered the hustle with four hits, including a sixth-inning bunt single that forced an error and drove in a run, along with two stolen bases in a fourth straight victory. That's not to mention the three-hit night for Nick Gonzales, who now ranks sixth in MLB with a .312 batting average at this juncture of the season.
That's a decent amount of guys coming through to produce, and on a night where three other key contributors in Spencer Horwitz, Bryan Reynolds and Ryan O'Hearn went a combined 1 for 11.
"We're taking good swings," Lowe said after belting his team-leading 15th home run, which ranks tied for the fourth-most in the National League. "Every one that you kind of look at, it's not the only thing they're trying to do. And when you look at a lot of other things as well, like Mangum having four singles today, putting bunts down. Even with Endy, when he's not hitting home runs, he's getting on base, stealing bags. Bryan's doing the same thing. Up and down the lineup, there were great at-bats."
There's no question the night-and-day difference between the Pirates offense of 2025 and the version we're seeing nowadays. This group, one that has plated 45 runs over the course of their ongoing four-game winning streak, has scored the fourth-most runs (311) in MLB, trailing the likes of the Braves (320), Dodgers (321) and Nationals (330). They've hit the 11th-most home runs (71), which is already a massive step in a better direction after finishing all of last year with 117 over 162 games, and have taken things a step further by putting together stellar numbers in other areas. The overall quality of their at-bats have led to the fifth-most walks (242) in MLB, while a more aggressive approach on the basepaths have them possessing the third-most stolen bases as a unit.
The Pirates still have a top-notch starting rotation led by Paul Skenes, Braxton Ashcraft and Mitch Keller, and a bullpen that continues to try to piece itself together. But the offense seems to be the biggest reason why they are currently sitting five games above .500 at 33-28 with a Wild Card spot in hand and the National League Central standings looking like this at the moment:
MLB
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