Alexander Canario splinters his bat against the Cubs on Sunday at Wrigley Field.
The Pirates’ four-game set against the Cubs this weekend at Wrigley Field, which concluded today with the Pirates' 3-2 loss in 10 innings, was an encapsulation of 2025: An exceptional pitching staff backed by Major League Baseball's worst offense.
Andrew Heaney, Paul Skenes, Mike Burrows, Mitch Keller and an adequate bullpen limited one of the best offenses in the major leagues to nine runs and 24 hits while producing a 1.89 ERA. All the Pirates’ offense offered in return was seven runs and 19 hits.
This isn't anything new.
Heading into today’s game, the Pirates’ starting rotation had been the best in Major League Baseball since May 1. It had recorded a major-league best 2.97 ERA, pitched the most innings (230 2/3), and produced the third-best WHIP (1.12) and third-best left on-base percentage (79.8%).
And what does it have to show for it? How about a major-league low of 2.89 runs of support per nine innings and the third-fewest wins (7) in the major leagues.
Conversely, heading into today, the offense ranked last in RBIs (116), runs (124) home runs (27) and slugging percentage (.338) since May 1. It also had the third-worst batting average (.227), fifth-worst on-base percentage (.303), second fewest doubles (51) and sixth-most strikeouts (352).
"We have to find a way offensively to get better. To get those hits with guys on base and continue to battle up there,” Don Kelly said. “The starting pitching in general, starters and bullpen, has been really, really good in keeping runs off the board and giving us chances to win. If we can keep the starting pitching and bullpen going and find a way to scratch and claw and get some more runs, that's what we've got to find a way to do."
The Pirates' offense today scored two runs on three hits in the first inning to take an early lead, one that was erased in the bottom half, and nothing else. Colin Rea adjusted and set down 16 of the next 17 batters he faced, giving up one single to Spencer Horwitz, who accounted for two of the Pirates' four hits.
The Cubs' bullpen, which had the fourth-best ERA in Major League Baseball entering today, pitched four scoreless innings and walked two.
"We have to give ourselves more opportunities," Horwitz said. "Whether it be via bunt, via walk, via rallying a couple of hits together. We just need to create more opportunities."
When I followed up and asked if that's how this offense was built to score runs, he said: "When you are not putting up a lot of runs, you have to take advantage of every situation. Whether that's small ball or hitting behind runners, situational hitting, you gotta cash in when you can."
Considering June alone, the Pirates have three hitters above .250 -- Andrew McCutchen (.255), Adam Frazier (.278) and Ke'Bryan Hayes (.256). Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz are hitting .160 and .196, respectively, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, the team's best hitter in terms of season-long batting average (.284), is hitting .200. That won't put runs on the scoreboard. But, this problem started in the offseason.
With several holes to fill, Ben Cherington addressed the Pirates' offensive deficiencies by spending just over $10 million on McCutchen, Frazier and 37 year old Tommy Pham, who is hitting .196, leaving the question of, who's going to hit?
It hasn't been answered yet and the Pirates' pitching staff continues to be the victim. So, how do they fix it.
"Man, if I knew, if (hitting coach Matt) Hague knew, if the players knew, definitely would be doing that," Kelly said. "It's just we gotta keep our nose down, continue to work. Baseball, it will come around, it will click. We've got to get back on the train of scoring runs."
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THE ASYLUM
Greg Macafee
6:50 am - 06.16.2025CHICAGOGoing Deep: Where's the run support?
GETTY
Alexander Canario splinters his bat against the Cubs on Sunday at Wrigley Field.
The Pirates’ four-game set against the Cubs this weekend at Wrigley Field, which concluded today with the Pirates' 3-2 loss in 10 innings, was an encapsulation of 2025: An exceptional pitching staff backed by Major League Baseball's worst offense.
Andrew Heaney, Paul Skenes, Mike Burrows, Mitch Keller and an adequate bullpen limited one of the best offenses in the major leagues to nine runs and 24 hits while producing a 1.89 ERA. All the Pirates’ offense offered in return was seven runs and 19 hits.
This isn't anything new.
Heading into today’s game, the Pirates’ starting rotation had been the best in Major League Baseball since May 1. It had recorded a major-league best 2.97 ERA, pitched the most innings (230 2/3), and produced the third-best WHIP (1.12) and third-best left on-base percentage (79.8%).
And what does it have to show for it? How about a major-league low of 2.89 runs of support per nine innings and the third-fewest wins (7) in the major leagues.
Conversely, heading into today, the offense ranked last in RBIs (116), runs (124) home runs (27) and slugging percentage (.338) since May 1. It also had the third-worst batting average (.227), fifth-worst on-base percentage (.303), second fewest doubles (51) and sixth-most strikeouts (352).
"We have to find a way offensively to get better. To get those hits with guys on base and continue to battle up there,” Don Kelly said. “The starting pitching in general, starters and bullpen, has been really, really good in keeping runs off the board and giving us chances to win. If we can keep the starting pitching and bullpen going and find a way to scratch and claw and get some more runs, that's what we've got to find a way to do."
The Pirates' offense today scored two runs on three hits in the first inning to take an early lead, one that was erased in the bottom half, and nothing else. Colin Rea adjusted and set down 16 of the next 17 batters he faced, giving up one single to Spencer Horwitz, who accounted for two of the Pirates' four hits.
The Cubs' bullpen, which had the fourth-best ERA in Major League Baseball entering today, pitched four scoreless innings and walked two.
"We have to give ourselves more opportunities," Horwitz said. "Whether it be via bunt, via walk, via rallying a couple of hits together. We just need to create more opportunities."
When I followed up and asked if that's how this offense was built to score runs, he said: "When you are not putting up a lot of runs, you have to take advantage of every situation. Whether that's small ball or hitting behind runners, situational hitting, you gotta cash in when you can."
Considering June alone, the Pirates have three hitters above .250 -- Andrew McCutchen (.255), Adam Frazier (.278) and Ke'Bryan Hayes (.256). Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz are hitting .160 and .196, respectively, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, the team's best hitter in terms of season-long batting average (.284), is hitting .200. That won't put runs on the scoreboard. But, this problem started in the offseason.
With several holes to fill, Ben Cherington addressed the Pirates' offensive deficiencies by spending just over $10 million on McCutchen, Frazier and 37 year old Tommy Pham, who is hitting .196, leaving the question of, who's going to hit?
It hasn't been answered yet and the Pirates' pitching staff continues to be the victim. So, how do they fix it.
"Man, if I knew, if (hitting coach Matt) Hague knew, if the players knew, definitely would be doing that," Kelly said. "It's just we gotta keep our nose down, continue to work. Baseball, it will come around, it will click. We've got to get back on the train of scoring runs."
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