In our Pittsburgh Pirates Wild Card Watch, we give you a semi-daily primer as the Pirates try to chase down a 2016 playoff spot.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are seemingly still in the NL Wild Card hunt. As their chances have been revived, so too is our Wild Card Watch. This is where we survey the current state of affairs in the hunt for the 2016 NL Wild Card.
The Pirates are 6-2 in their last ten games. The fact that this team has not rolled over is a testament to the talent and resolve up and down its roster. Clint Hurdle has kept his charges looking forward, and the results speak for themselves.
With that being said, it was widely acknowledged that if the Pirates were to get back into the race, they would need some help. And that is exactly what they got. Today we’ll look at the three teams in front of the Pirates.
Let’s take a peek at the current NL Wild Card standings:
via ESPN.com
San Francisco Giants
The Giants are in free-fall. They are 3-7 in their last ten, and Johnny Cueto may miss time with a groin injury. Their current problems lay chiefly in pitching.
Not only has Matt Moore been decidedly average – 4.16 FIP; 1.51 WHIP – in his 10 starts since moving to the bay, but the Giants bullpen has been abysmal. They have blown eight of their last 13 save attempts, and have squandered 29 save opportunities on the season. With starting pitching precipitously thin behind Madison Bumgarner and a questionable-at-best relief unit, the Giants are very vulnerable.
Going forward, the Giants have a somewhat easy time of it, with seven games against Colorado and San Diego before wrapping up the season with a tough three-gamer against the Dodgers. The Giants are in serious trouble, and the Pittsburgh Pirates could benefit the most from their slide.
Latest Giants News & Notes
- A closer look at the San Francisco Implosion.
- Read More on the Cueto and Brandon Crawford injuries.
New York Mets
The New York Mets have been treading water – 5-5 in their last 10 – but were dealt a serious blow when it was learned that Jacob deGrom would need shoulder surgery and would miss the year.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Mets lost three consecutive games to the lowly Atlanta Braves, including last night’s in gut-wrenching fashion.
[mlbvideo id=”1180575683″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]While it is easy to contend that any team with postseason hopes should never lose three straight to cellar dwellers such as Atlanta, the reality is this team has the easiest road of any Wild Card contender. Seven games against the Philadelphia Phillies peppered with three against the fading Miami Marlins could mask the issues the team currently faces. As a bonus, the team will get Steven Matz back, though his effectiveness is still up in the air.
They’ll need good pitching, as their offense remains an enigma. Jay Bruce in particular has struggled recently, slashing .067/.200/.067 over the last 14 days.
Latest Mets News & Notes
- More on Matz’s return
- Some are blaming manager Terry Collins for the team’s up-and-down play.
St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals are also treading water, but with considerable more upside than the Mets.
For one, they have not given in to the cream puffs. In seven games against the Giants and Cubs, the Cards went 3-4, splitting the four-game San Francisco series and losing the Cubs series two games to one. After that, they took care of business, winning a series in Colorado. They will next travel to Chicago for a three game series versus the Cubs, then four in St. Louis against the Reds, before ending the season with three against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The timing may be fortuitous for the Pirates. The Bucs will finish their series against Milwaukee tonight before travelling back home to face a Washington Nationals team that is somewhat in disarray. If the Pirates can win their series while the Cardinals face the Cubs – who they are only 8-8 against this season – there could be some positional leapfrogging to be had. If the Cubs can play the Cards tight, St. Louis might be in trouble, as they are only 22-22 in one run games.
Latest Cardinals News & Notes
- Cardinals Conclave looks at Alex Reyes‘ first MLB steps.
- Matt Holliday may be officially done for the season.
That does it for this edition of the Wild Card Watch. The Pittsburgh Pirates are keeping it interesting, and have a real chance at sneaking into the postseason.
What a difference a week makes.
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