As Cardinals fans now know well, one team that has been largely written off in the crowded and underperforming National League Central division is tougher than they look: namely, the Pittsburgh Pirates. After a good run to enter the All-Star Break, and two great performances from Cardinals players at the All-Star Game itself, St. Louis looked poised to establish itself after the break with a strong series in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, the Pirates had other plans. Though the Cardinals led all three games very late, they surrendered two of those leads, and wound up losing the series. The Pirates, meanwhile, now sit six games back of the NL Central lead, and far from being a joke, are starting to look very dangerous. Here are five reasons why I think the Cardinals, Brewers, and Cubs should all be looking over their shoulder at the Pittsburgh Pirates.
1) Strong Starting Pitching
While the Pirates’ starting arms have sometimes struggled to perform this season, that hardly means they’re an easy bunch to beat. The resurgent Ivan Nova, acquired on the cheap from the Yankees last year, has led the staff with a 9-6 record and a 3.21 ERA. While neither stat is eye-popping, Nova’s performance on a staff full of young guns is to be admired. Meanwhile, while Gerrit Cole has struggled some this year (7-7, 4.35 ERA) he remains one of the game’s most coveted young arms. Jameson Taillon has looked terrific since returning from his battle with cancer, and both he and Tyler Glasnow have been considered top pitching prospects in recent years. Four strong arms could make any team a contender, and if any of Cole, Taillon, and Glasnow really catches fire, the NL Central should be on notice.
2) Tough Lefties
The Pirates’ bullpen has been an area of concern this year, but it’s not for a lack of dangerous southpaws. Cardinals’ fans should know well how threatening Tony Watson can be, and though he has not been in top shape this year, he’s shown signs of improvement lately. More frightening is the Pirates’ new closer, Felipe Rivero. Throwing up to 100 MPH, Rivero’s stat line is insane, with a .72 ERA, 57 K’s, an opponents BA of .129, and a WHIP of .68 49.2 innings. While the Pirates would certainly need to add a good righty to really make their bullpen pop, these two will be a nightmare to contend with down the stretch.
3) Clint Hurdle
Widely considered one of baseball’s better managers, Hurdle may be nearing the end of his career, and he is certainly nearing the end of his contract. Hurdle’s deal is up after this year, with a club option for 2018. Clint has openly said that he would prefer to end his career with the Pirates, so if he’d like his career to continue, he has added incentive to get his team to the playoffs. A division win would be the first for Hurdle in his time with the Pirates, and the Pirates’ first division title since 1992. While desire alone will not take them there, Hurdle’s strategic acumen and motivational skill will be a valuable asset for the Pirates down the stretch.
4) The Reemergent Andrew McCutchen
This past offseason saw many credible rumors about the Pirates shopping their franchise superstar, Andrew McCutchen. McCutchen, once one of the most feared hitters in the NL Central, had struggled for the past few seasons, not looking himself. His start to 2017 didn’t look much better, but since June 1, McCutchen has been absolutely electric. He batted .411 in the month of June, with a ridiculous .505 OBP, and a .689 slugging percentage. He’s slashing .362/.455/.660 in July as well. While these supernatural numbers may not be sustainable, if McCutchen can perform more like the 2013 NL MVP than the player we’ve seen the last few years, the Pirates will be a dramatically better team.
5) Starling Marte
The Pirates took a huge hit in April when it was announced that Starling Marte, perhaps their single best player, had been suspended for 80 games due to a PED violation. Those 80 games came to an end yesterday, and Marte will return to the Pirates’ lineup tonight. Marte slashed .311/.362/.456 in his All-Star campaign last year, and has won back to back gold gloves. On top of that, he has electric speed, and is a threat any time he’s on base.
With Marte back in the lineup, a renascent McCutchen, and a rising Gregory Polanco rounding out the outfield, the Pirates are a dangerous team. If the Cardinals, Brewers, and Pirates write them off as a joke, they will be regretting it when they’re watching the Pirates in the playoffs three months from now. That’s far from a sure thing, but the NL Central is certainly more than a three-team race, and the Pirates are a team to watch out for in the coming months.
