Despite the Indianapolis Indians getting off to a rough start, the Pittsburgh Pirates top pitching prospects are putting together a season meant for the record books.
Very few people, if anyone, would have been surprised before the International League season started if they were told the Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate would have a formidable starting rotation, but talent on paper is different from talent in the box score and on the field, as evidenced by the Indians struggling mightily to stay above .500.
You could even say the Indians’ rotation could be considered historic. In fact, prior to their May 14th game against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders, the Indianapolis Indians were on pace to post the best earned run average of any affiliated Triple-A pitching staff in history. The all-time record regardless of affiliation belongs to the 1982 Yucatan Leones of the Mexican League at 2.31. In true Elias Sports Bureau fashion, I dug through stat sheet after stat sheet to give you the top earned run averages at the Triple-A level since 1960. Click on the picture for full resolution. All ERA stats are courtesy of baseball-reference.com.
The 2016 Indians’ pitching staff is also on pace to beat the record for the franchise of 2.80 set in 1989 when team was affiliated with the Montreal Expos.
They would also best the record for Pirates’ organization of 3.09 set in 1988 by the Buffalo Bisons and tied by the 2015 Indians.
Combined, the Indians’ starting rotation has posted a 1.75 ERA, which makes it almost unfathomable that the team has posted a 17-16 record over the first five weeks of their season. Over those 34 games, the starters have surrendered more than three earned runs just three times. Something is clearly holding the team back.
Click on the picture for full resolution.
The bullpen has been as abysmal as its major league counterpart thus far this season. The relievers have a 4.07 ERA. A lineup filled with talented hitters from top to bottom, including the bench, ranks tenth out of 14 teams in the league in batting average, eighth in on-base percentage, seventh in slugging percentage, second in strikeouts, and 11th in walks.
The rest of the team is letting the starting rotation down. If Indianapolis has any hopes of breaking the ERA records, the bullpen, lineup, and replacements for pitchers called up to Pittsburgh will need to step up their game. Wilfredo Boscan, Jameson Taillon, and Chad Kuhl were all in the top five in the league in ERA at the time of the writing of this article. Even if they can keep up such production throughout the season, it is highly unlikely anyone could replicate their results, should any or all of those three be promoted.
So what are the chances the Indians will be able to remain consistent and take home the record?
Highly unlikely, the entire starting rotation could see time with the Pirates at some point this season. Trevor Williams and Nick Kingham are question marks regarding production once they return from the disabled list. Boscan has dramatically improved since joining the Pirates in 2015, but he is likely due for at least a little regression. Kuhl has far more upside and consistency of performing at an elite level, but his Arrieta-esque numbers are likely to return to the troposphere at some point. Steven Brault, Tyler Glasnow, and Taillon are all performing close to what should be expected from them, which should be all the more terrifying to the Indians’ opponents.
Still, the Indians’ rotation could go down as the best in Triple-A history, and Pirates fans should be very, very excited about that possibility.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
