They’re Not As Bad As You Think But They’re Not Good Either

Offensively, the Pittsburgh Pirates have some good pieces. Josh Bell hit 37 out of the park in 2019. Bryan Reynolds hit .314 and shortstop Kevin Newman hit .308. Designated hitter Kevin Moran hit .277. Middle infielders Erik Gonzalez and Adam Frazier were more than respectable.

The problem is they don’t have the pitching to keep the other team from scoring runs. Last we checked, the team that scores the most runs wins.

Joe Musgrove career 28-36 4.45 ERA is what the league generally has to offer for fifth starters. Trevor Williams and his 4.20 ERA would likely be in the four spot. But here’s the problem: there are more pitchers with worse stats to come. There’s Derek Holland (4.54 ERA) and lefty Steven Brault (4.92 ERA). Basically that’s five number four starters if you throw Chad Kuhl and his 4.30 in the mix. You’re not gonna win many with that group. JT Brubaker is coming off a couple of decent seasons in the minors. He could be the ace.

With this staff they win 40 percent of their games. That’s a 65-win team, but the shortened season won’t be kind.

Coronavirus 60-game prediction: 20-40.

Beer and baseball have gotten along famously for a couple hundred years. Check out the dark, soothing goodness that stouts have to offer in these troubling times, while hopefully laughing your tail off at stoutcast.com.