Pirates/MLB
Pittsburgh Pirates
Morning Pirates Buzz
- 1st time in 18 years? The Pirates have not been four games above .500 or better since the final day of the 1992 regular season, when they finished 96-66. They can move to 45-41 with a win tonight against the Astros.
- Pittsburgh goes into Tuesday’s action 1.5 games out of first place. The Pirates are 9-4 in their last 13 games. During that span they are 5-2 at home.
- Beating teams they should: The Pirates are 20-15 against teams with below .500 records.
- Amazing Stat for the Pirates: They are 40-0 when leading after 8 innings. All-Star closer Joel Hanrahan is 25-for-25 in save opportunities and his 25 saves on July 5th matches Mike Williams for the most saves in team history before the All-Star break.
- Improvement in two Key Areas: The Pirates were a league worst in 2010, giving up 5.4 runs per game. This year they are 12th in the majors, giving up just 3.9 runs per game.
- In the hitting department they are averaging 3.9 runs per game and have shown steady improvement of late. In 6 of their last 10 games, the Pirates have scored 5 runs or more.
- 8th best ERA: The Pirates have the leagues 8th best team ERA at 3.42. The team’s 49 quality starts rank 12th in the majors.
- Presley, d’Arnaud adding speed and athleticism: One added dividend at least in the short-term for the Pirates has been the speed and athleticism that Alex Presley and Chase d’Arnaud have brought to the club.
- Presley (.364 – 1HR – 6 RBI’s) is 8-for-17 at the plate in his last 4 games, 2 runs scored, triple, RBI and 1 stolen base. Meanwhile, Chase d’Arnaud is 6-for-15 with 2 doubles, RBI, 5 runs scored in his last 3 games. d’Arnaud also has 3 Stolen Bases in his last 5 games.
- Second baseman Neil Walker (.255 – 8HR – 55RBI) has not homered since June 5, a span of 26 games.
- Walker though has 4 RBI’s thus far in the month of Jult and has 16 RBI’s in his last 20 games, despite having just 2 extra base hits during that span.
- Karstens looks to match incredible June: Jeff Karstens (6-4, 2.65 ERA) takes his team leading 2.65 ERA to the mound tonight against the Houston Astros.
- Karstens is coming off a tremendous June where he posted a 1.52 ERA, surrendering just 7 earned runs in 41 1/3 innings pitched. Karstens has given up 3 earned runs or less in 12 straight starts.
