PIRATES

The Pirates have faced adversity quite a bit this season. Typically, they've bounced back. But, after back-to-back 6-0 losses to the Phillies, today's loss in front of the third sellout crowd at PNC Park this season, this might be the biggest challenge they've faced.

"I think we've faced adversity on different levels," Don Kelly said after Sunday's game. "This may be a little different, but anytime you hit adversity like we did after the St. Louis sweep, it's hard. Everybody feels it. Fans feel it. Players feel it. Staff feels it. I think we've done a good job rebounding on a lot of different levels this year in the midst of adversity."

Kelly's reference to the four-game sweep at the hands of the Cardinals came with a three-game sweep of the Reds as an answer. But, there are a few different facets to what the Pirates are facing.

First, and potentially the most concerning, the lack of offense and current blow to the lineup. After the Pirates held an 8-3 advantage after six innings in Friday night's 11-9 loss, they were outscored by the Phillies, 20-1, over the next 22 innings. It's one thing to endure the worst loss of the season, blowing a five-run lead like that, but then to answer it with back-to-back shutouts is more worrisome, even considering that they faced two stud starting pitchers in Cristopher Sánchez and Zack Wheeler.

"We have to find a way to be better and get stuff going against those guys because that's what playoff baseball is all about," Kelly said. "Tough loss on Friday night and it's relentless whenever you get to that level and you're facing those types of guys. Those are the types of arms that you see in October."

For some salt in the wound, the Pirates have now lost Ryan O'Hearn for, according to Ben Cherington's prognosis, at least four weeks with a right quad strain. For a lineup that was just dominated for 22 straight innings, losing one of its more impactful bats comes at a terrible time. And now, standing on the other side of this ugly sweep is the same Cardinals team that swept them in four games just a few weeks ago. Only this time, the Pirates travel to St. Louis.

Yet, coming off his second-worst start of the season, giving up five earned runs in five-plus innings in Sunday's loss, Paul Skenes is a believer that this team will once again respond to adversity.

"I'm not worried about it. It's probably a good time for an off day, but I think we are in a good spot going into this next stretch," Skenes said after the game. "Just the character we have. We showed it so far and I think we will continue to show it. We are going to keep fighting."