Off The Bat is a weekly Pirates column from insider Jason Mackey, powered by North Shore Tavern, Pittsburgh’s home for steak on a stone.
It seems like just yesterday that the uncertainty surrounding Bryan Reynolds’ contract extension and Rob Zastryzny’s opening day magic consumed our attention during a chilly weekend in Cincinnati.
Yet after this weekend’s series against the Braves, the Pirates will have just 19 games left. It’s not a lot. At the same time, there are plenty of important things we still need to see. Let’s explore:
Great arms race
What happens with Roansy Contreras, Luis Ortiz and Quinn Priester matters, and lately this storyline has tilted in the team’s favor.
Contreras, after a bout of shoulder stiffness, started on Wednesday and worked four innings of two-run ball, walking none and striking out four. His velocity was 92-94 mph. It’s not spectacular, but it’s enough if he throws his curveball and changeup for strikes.
Ortiz (six innings, two runs, four strikeouts) looked excellent on Monday, like those delivery changes are finally starting to stick, and Priester has so far produced better results in Triple-A (2.66 ERA, .186 batting average against, 32 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings).
The Pirates need at least one and preferably two to remain key members of the starting rotation in 2024.
Is Jack back?
Things got so bad for Jack Suwinski during one stretch when he hit .115 over 31 games that the Pirates sat him down, allowing him to unplug and get a fresh start. It looks like that has helped.
Over his past 13 games entering Saturday, Suwinski was hitting .244 (10 for 41) with a double, triple, three home runs, seven RBIs and six runs scored. The Pirates are also 28-11 when he has an RBI. If they have to sit him against lefties, so be it.
But some consistency out of Suwinski to close out the year wouldn’t hurt.
Catching fire
An optimistic plan could have Henry Davis playing in minor league games next week, which can’t happen soon enough. Of all the things Davis does well, rest isn’t one of them.
At the same time, we need more data out of Davis and Endy Rodriguez, specifically on the offensive side.
They’ve been learning defensive positions, and this is hardly a criticism. I also think they’ll be fine long-term. But Davis has a .645 OPS in 51 MLB games, Rodriguez a nearly identical mark of .626 in 42.
Outside of Termarr Johnson and prior to Paul Skenes, these two were the organization’s two brightest prospects because of their offense. Seeing glimpses of that over the balance of the season would be great.
Offense’s Key
It’s hard to overstate what this version of Ke’Bryan Hayes means to the Pirates. The defense, the power since he returned from back issues, the run production ... impressive.
We’ve also been fooled before.
Hayes has hit .336 in 27 games since Aug. 8, with seven doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 21 RBIs and a .1.046 OPS. Can that continue? It would help the offense in a big way if this was for real this time.
Who’s on ... second?
Not like the Pirates have much more clarity at first base, but the spot opposite Oneil Cruz has entered interesting territory. Liover Peguero and Nick Gonzales, two really good friends, might be battling for the same thing.
Peguero, by virtue of what he’s done at the major league level, certainly has a leg up. Entering the Braves series, Peguero was hitting .324 with two doubles and a homer over his last nine games. He’s among the top 10 in most categories among rookies since July 23.
Meanwhile, Gonzales has shined at Triple-A by hitting .304 with a .944 OPS in 28 games since he was optioned.
Tough to know what to make of Ji Hwan Bae. Love his bunt game and speed. The 110 mph triple on Wednesday, too. The Pirates are also 23-10 in games in which he scores this season.
We just need time to sort this all out.
Finding a fit
The positive: He crushed the minor leagues for much of this year. The bad: He has largely looked like a Quad-A player in MLB since 2018. The cloudy: since returning to the big club in September, Miguel Andujar is hitting .286 with a double, homer and four RBIs.
Small sample, sure. But Andujar certainly has some power. The rare bad-ball hitter. His outfield-first base defensive profile could work, too.
They have to play him a lot the rest of the way and see what he can do, even if that answer turns out to be nothing.
THREE UP
• Carmen Mlodzinski, Colin Holderman and David Bednar form a darn good 7-8-9. Jose Hernandez (57 K, 44 1/3 IP) has been a rare Rule 5 success and great against lefties. Ryan Borucki, Thomas Hatch and Bailey Falter have been solid pickups. Only two MLB bullpens have a better FIP (3.65) than the Pirates since July 19.
• So much has happened with Ji Hwan Bae this season. Came in swinging for the fences, has gradually adjusted his approach. Made six errors in his first 28 games but has three in his last 62. Baserunning approach has also been improved. Number of steals and infield hits (22 apiece) impressive despite missed time. A style of play Pirates need.
• I don’t think this will be it with Andrew McCutchen, so no need to start eulogizing yet. But I have been thinking about what an honor it has been to cover this entire thing — him signing, the re-introductory presser, Cutch arriving in spring, his role in 20-8, the production, surpassing 2,000 hits and Cutch being Cutch throughout. Awesome experience.
THREE DOWN
• Have liked Miguel Andujar, but I still don’t see a future here for him. He’s eligible for arbitration a third time this winter. Meanwhile, the Pirates must spend real money on first base and allocate right-field reps to Henry Davis. Andujar wouldn’t be worth the cost in a reserve role. Also doesn’t match their down-with-OBP predilection.
• Don’t understand the middle-infield outlay. Alika Williams is getting regular playing time despite hitting .216 with a .561 OPS, and he’s completely unplayable against lefties (.100 average). Vinny Capra is a .174 career hitter who’s 27. Glad Jared Triolo’s back. Next move should be returning Nick Gonzales.
• I get the Pirates wanting to be cautious with Paul Skenes, but I didn’t like how this week played out. They promoted his supposed start Thursday in Altoona. Fans bought tickets. Some probably made plans to come from out of town to see Skenes face former LSU teammate Dylan Crews. Could have been timed better.
ON DECK
• DELIGHTFUL DEBUT: What a career-opening run it has been for Nationals outfielder Jacob Young. Has played 12 games and been on base in all of ’em. Also has a nine-hitting streak going into Saturday's game, during which he’s batting .355 with five doubles and four RBIs.
• BACKING IT UP: C Keibert Ruiz has really blossomed for the Nationals. Since July 9, Ruiz leads all qualified catchers in the National League in batting average (.311), slugging percentage (.512) and OPS (.879).
• OH, YEAH, THEM: Yankees look a little more like the Yankees. Since Aug. 23, they’re 10-6 (3.28 ERA, 3rd) and they’ve hit 33 home runs, which is tied for first. A season-long strength has been the bullpen, which leads both leagues in ERA (3.23), batting average against (.215) and ranks second in WHIP (1.20).
• COLE TRAIN: Could see Gerrit Cole start on Roberto Clemente Day (Sept. 15) in Pittsburgh. Cole has allowed two or fewer runs in 22 of his 29 starts this season, the most such starts in MLB. He has the best ERA (2.90) in the American League and the third-lowest mark in MLB.
NUMEROLOGY
7: The Nationals have used just seven starting pitchers this season, tied with the Blue Jays for the fewest in MLB. They’re one of only three teams to have five pitchers make 20 or more starts. The Pirates, meanwhile, have used 15 starters and have had three guys make 20 or more starts.
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.
First Published: September 8, 2023, 9:30 a.m.
Updated: September 9, 2023, 12:22 a.m.
