The Pittsburgh Pirates sit at 64-61, 2.5 games out of the wild card. In 2014, they were 64-62 before going 24-12 to slide in. Can history repeat itself?
The Pittsburgh Pirates find themselves with 37 games left to play in the regular season. Is that enough time to close the gap between their club and the National League Wild Card?
In 2014, the Pirates found themselves at 64-62. In many respects, it had been a miserable season to that point. The long-awaited call up of Gregory Polanco came, went, and fizzled. Their piecemeal rotation – led by the rebirth of Edinson Volquez – kept the team in games long enough for a sturdy bullpen to close the deal.
That club went 24-12 down the stretch – parts of which included a 17-9 September record – to end up at 88 wins, just good enough to tie the San Francisco Giants for the NL Wild Card. We all know what happened next, but can history repeat itself? Can the Pittsburgh Pirates at least get to the one game playoff and give themselves a chance?
A Different Road To Hoe
That 2014 team had a sizable advantage over their future 2016 counterparts. Their schedule was considerably easier from Game 125 on. Games against Boston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Milwaukee and Atlanta comprised 24 of those late season games. The 2014 Pirates also faced the Cubs and Cardinals in 12 contests.
That year’s club handled its business at times – consider a three game sweep and 5-1 record down the stretch against the 97-win Cubs – but also came up short at times, with a three game sweetp at the hands of the Cardinals in early September.
In fact, if not for two losses to close the season at Cincinnati, the Pittsburgh Pirates could have ended up with a better record than their eventual 88-74 fate. However, the team played well, and can’t be penalized in hindsight for who was on their schedule. The bottom line was, with their backs to the wall, they played .667 baseball in the most meaningful stretch of the year.
2016 Will be a Different Story
As we approach the final 37 games of the 2016 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates will have a considerably tougher path. To get to a win total that could even be considered “Wild-Card worthy,” the club will have to take on some serious undertakings.
[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”#000000″ class=”” size=””]That 2014 team had a sizable advantage over their future 2016 counterparts.[/perfectpullquote]In taking the first game of the four-game set against Milwaukee, they are off to a great start. They’ll need to keep that up, as their late schedule is as unfavorable to them in 2016 as it was favorable to them in 2014.
The Pirates will have to give it a go in a daunting 16 games against the Washington Nationals, Cubs and Cardinals from September 23rd onward. This includes an absolutely brutal 10-game stretch at the end of the season. The silver lining is that the season ends with a three game slate against the Cardinals. Should the Pittsburgh Pirates tread water and more or less remain in the position they are now, that series looms large as a chance for the Bucs to take over the wild card at the very end of the year.
Need another silver lining? With the Nationals and Cubs enjoying wide leads in their divisions, they may have little to play for and may begin resting starting pitchers, or saving bullpen arms.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have done a great job of going two steps forward and one step back all year long.
But, as the 2016 MLB season begins to give way to changing colors and cooler temperatures, the club will need to not only put it’s best foot forward, but take longer strides as well.
[irp posts=”9173″ name=”Pittsburgh Pirates Rumor Mill – Final Waiver Deadline Predictions”]Photo Credit- Daniel Decker Photography
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