The Pittsburgh Pirates were four games under .500 when Gerrit Cole was placed on the DL on June 8 and two weeks later they are three games better at 37-38. I think just about everyone will take that.
The Pirates have gotten a jolt offensively with Gregory Polanco’s callup, Starling Marte breaking out and a key has been pitchers like Brandon Cumpton and Vance Worley stepping up in the rotation.
As the Pirates continue to hover around .500, the team got another strong outing from Brandon Cumpton (3-2, 4.93 ERA) today in a 2-1 win over the Cubs on Sunday afternoon.
Cumpton pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits, while striking out four and walking two, earning his third win of the season. Cumpton retired 13 of his first 14 batters.
Cumpton improved to 3-0 with a 3.09 ERA in four starts this month and has allowed three earned runs or less in six of eight games this season. Cumpton’s 4.93 ERA is inflated due to giving up 10 earned runs in a start vs the Dodgers on May 31.
“Rookie or whatever you call it, this dude, he comes in every time and he battles,” Pirates infielder Josh Harrison said. “He is a warrior. He is out there and he is going to grind. He does just that.”