In our daily Wake-Up Call, we get you ready for the baseball day with a complete look at all things Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are in absolute free fall.
They have lost six straight, including three at PNC Park against a Milwaukee Brewers team that clearly enjoys playing mind games with the Pirates.
Yesterday’s loss was especially brutal. A 10-0 shutout loss is hard to take under any means, yet Juan Nicasio and newly called-up Kelvin Marte gave up nine runs, failing to pick up Steven Brault‘s serviceable start.
Again, this was on the North Shore. At Pittsbugh’s baseball cathedral. In front of a crowd that was desperately hoping to see some sign of life from its baseball club. Something. Anything.
Not a chance. Not on this day. Not from a team that seems to be unable to pull themselves back together after an extra-innings walk off win against the Chicago Cubs that started this quagmire.
(As if there was anything wrong with that result against the class of Major League Baseball)
Right now, if this Pittsburgh Pirates team met their 2015 98-win counterparts, it is highly doubtful that they would recognize each other. This team has nowhere near the level of fight and desire that the 2015 squad did.
At 67-67, the club had better find some of that fight. Quick. Yesterday.
The Pittsburgh Pirates Against Tonight’s Starter
Tonight the Pirates will face Adam Wainwright as they start a series against a Cardinals team directly in front of them in the Wild Card chase. While the Pirates won’t be able to chase down the Cards even with a sweep, they simply must win this series, if only for their own sanity.
They just might be catching Wainright at the wrong time. Though the veteran right-hander held a crooked 6.10 ERA in August, he has allowed just three earned runs in his last two starts, spanning 12 innings.
Here now is a look at how Wainwright has done historically against current Pirates hitters.
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew McCutchen | 63 | 58 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 13 | .259 | .286 | .448 | .734 |
| Starling Marte | 39 | 36 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | .167 | .231 | .306 | .536 |
| Jordy Mercer | 25 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | .318 | .375 | .636 | 1.011 |
| Josh Harrison | 23 | 21 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .333 | .348 | .429 | .776 |
| Gregory Polanco | 10 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | .333 | .400 | .444 | .844 |
| John Jaso | 9 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 |
| Matthew Joyce | 9 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .375 | .444 | .625 | 1.069 |
| Francisco Cervelli | 7 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .333 | .429 | .667 | 1.095 |
| David Freese | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .667 | .667 | .667 | 1.333 |
| Eric Fryer | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Adam Frazier | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Jason Rogers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | |||
| Total | 204 | 184 | 50 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 11 | 37 | .272 | .318 | .435 | .753 |
Baseball Talk on the Web
- Every week, MLB Trade Rumors compiles the best independent baseball content found on the web. PBD is honored to be included, and we ask you to check out their latest compilation.
- FanGraphs has a nice look at the National League Cy Young race.
- Hardball Talk wonders if the Cubs’ Addison Russell could be a difference maker in October.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
