**Pirates Owner Eyes Playoffs Amidst Promising Season**
The Pittsburgh Pirates, with a 36-38 record, are just half a game out of a Wild Card spot. Owner Bob Nutting, historically cautious about spending unless the team is winning, now sees potential and is considering financial investments to bolster the team, according to Noah Miles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Nutting acknowledged the team’s strengths and weaknesses, highlighting the solid pitching performance but pointing out the need for improved offense. “I think we’ve shown it’s attainable,” Nutting said. “The pitching has been solid. We have some very strong pitchers performing well. Obviously, we need more offense. We’re a bottom-performing team in offensive production. You all know that as much as I do. We’re fully aware of that.” Nutting emphasized that improvement must come both organically from current players and possibly through external acquisitions, a task for General Manager Ben Cherington.
The Pirates’ pitching has indeed been a strong point, ranking 14th in ERA at 3.91. However, they lag in offense, sitting 22nd in the league with 299 runs scored. The team is likely to be led by its pitchers if they are to make a significant impact this season.
Rookie Paul Skenes has impressed with a 4-0 record, a 2.29 ERA, and a 53/7 K/BB ratio. Mitch Keller follows closely with a 3.11 ERA and an 85/24 K/BB ratio. Other notable pitchers include Bailey Falter with a 3.74 ERA and Jared Jones, another rookie, with a 3.76 ERA and an 85/22 K/BB ratio. While the pitching staff is not flawless, it remains the team’s backbone, and players like Skenes and Jones are crucial to their success. Any trade deadline moves are expected to focus on enhancing the offense.
Offensively, the Pirates struggle across the board. They rank 23rd in home runs (68) and 25th in batting average (.230), with 707 strikeouts being the fourth-highest in the league. Nutting recognizes that while external help is beneficial, the team needs better performance from its current lineup.
Bryan Reynolds leads the team with a .276 batting average but has only 10 home runs and 40 RBIs. Andrew McCutchen matches Reynolds’ home run count. Oneil Cruz is batting .246 with nine home runs and 30 RBIs, while Ke’Bryan Hayes has a .238 average with three home runs and 17 RBIs. Jack Suwinski,
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