The Pittsburgh Pirates have cooled off after a hot start. The Pirates have lost six straight after being swept by Boston and now sit at 11-11. The offense has sputtered of late, with Pittsburgh scoring just nine runs during its slide. Veteran pitcher Martin Perez says his teammates are putting too much pressure on themselves to produce.
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz misplays a popup by Boston Red Sox’s Wilyer Abreu in short right center field during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, April 21, 2024. A run scored on the error. Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Martín Pérez delivers during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Boston Red Sox in Pittsburgh, Sunday, April 21, 2024.
A year ago, the Pirates sprinted to a 20-8 start before going into a two-month funk from which they never fully recovered on their way to a fifth straight losing season. They believe the painful lessons learned last spring will help keep them from bottoming out this time around. The issue at the moment isn’t the pitching, but the offense. The Pirates won 11 of their first 16 by averaging more than five runs a game. They haven’t scored more than three while getting swept by Boston and the New York Mets., is hitting just .209 and his 37 strikeouts lead the majors. Shelton dropped the towering 6-foot-7 Cruz to eighth in the order on Sunday in hopes of helping the talented 25-year-old hit the reset button.
Yet with Marco Gonzales on the injured list with a left forearm problem and Quinn Priester unimpressive in his 2024 major league debut in a loss on Friday, the drumbeat for the Pirates to call up 2023 top overall pick Skenes hasn’t thrown more than 65 pitches in any of his four starts, though that number figures to tick up in the coming weeks. Skenes has not groused about being in Triple-A and pointed out he needs to become more efficient, a sometimes difficult task for a strikeout pitcher.
Martin Perez MLB Derek Shelton Sports Boston Bryan Reynolds MLB Baseball S Oneil Cruz
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Triolo hits RBI single in 12th inning, Pittsburgh bullpen shines as Pirates beat Marlins 6-5Jared Triolo hit a RBI single in the top of the 12th inning to finish the Pittsburgh Pirates’ rally and beat the Miami Marlins 6-5 on opening day. Triolo’s line drive single against Marlins reliever Declan Cronin scored automatic runner Ke’Bryan Hayes.
Read more »
The Pittsburgh Pirates see significance in being 5-0 for the first time in 41 yearsLet other folks downplay the way the Pittsburgh Pirates have begun 2024. Manager Derek Shelton is thrilled that his club is 5-0 for the first time in 41 years. Pittsburgh also has scored at least a half-dozen runs each time out this deep into a season for the first time in at least 124 years.
Read more »
2024 MLB odds: Pittsburgh Pirates are underrated pick to win NL CentralFOX Sports betting analyst Will Hill shares his thoughts on why picking the Pittsburgh Pirates to win the NL Central is a smart bet.
Read more »
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Washington NationalsNationals (Gray 0-1, 15.75) welcome Pirates (Pérez 0-0, 2.08) in rubber game of 3-game series
Read more »
Snowstorm hits Pittsburgh Pirates' home opener against Baltimore OriolesAn all-out snowstorm broke out during the Pittsburgh Pirates' home opener against the Baltimore Orioles, turning PNC Park into a winter wonderland. Baseball is not meant to be played in snowy conditions, but the game continued as the snow piled on the field. The scene was captured on camera, showing the players battling the elements and smiling through the unusual weather.
Read more »