Pirates and Indians Play for Real This Time: What to Expect
On July 18th, 2020 the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians made a little bit of history for 2020. They were the first two teams in any of the four major sports (MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL) to play a televised game against each other. It was a chance for America to see baseball again and forget about the craziness that was going on with COVID-19. Here we are exactly one month later, and the two teams are set to battle for the first time in the regular season. Things look very different for both teams since that last meeting, with the Pirates dealing with eight injuries to pitchers and the Indians having to dismiss 2/5th of their rotation for not following the rules. However, the Pirates are trending downward sitting at 4-14 while the Indians are headed towards playoff contention at 13-9.
This three-game will be the first of two meetings between the two teams, with the other coming in the final series of 2020. The Pirates have had a couple of days off due to COVID-19 and are trying to get back on track. However, the Indians look to keep their roll going as they have won four of their last six games, including a three-game sweep over the Detroit Tigers last time out. Now, we take a look at what to expect as the Pirates and Indians do battle in the regular season. There were three competitive games in the first exhibition series of the year, and the Pirates are hoping this series is the same but goes the Pirates way.
What Happened Last Time Out
During the three-game exhibition series, the Cleveland Indians bested the Pirates sweeping them in the series. They won by scores of 5-3, 11-7, and 5-3. In two of those three games, the Pirates had a lead, only to have it slip away at the hands of poor bullpen work. In-game one, it was Kyle Crick that blew a lead giving up four ninth-inning runs, and in-game two every Pirates pitcher gave up at least one run as the team lost 11-7. The final game saw the Indians take the lead early on and never give it up as the Indians once again won 5-3. The Pirates entered the regular season on a three-game losing streak and it hasn't gotten much better.
That series was the start of Colin Moran's hot start to the 2020 season as he led the offense. He went 5-11 (.454) with one home run and one RBI. That one home run that he hit came at Progressive Field as he launched it into the seats in right field. Moran has still been the best player on the Pirates this season, despite some struggles recently that have seen him hit just .200 with one home run and two RBI over his last seven games. Another guy who looked absolutely on fire was Joe Musgrove, who got the nod in game one of the exhibition series. As he went three innings allowing just one hit while walking one and striking out five. The Indians swept the series last time, and the Pirates will be looking to take the real series.
Success Starts From the Top
The old saying goes, "success starts from the top" and that has been true for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season. When the top of the order gets things going, the Pirates usually have a lot of success. In their four wins this season, the Pirates have scored at least three runs in the first four innings of all of those games. To put those runs up, the top of the lineup has to be clicking on all cylinders and that is what has been happening lately for the Pirates. In the abbreviated two-game series with the Cincinnati Reds, the Pirates saw both sides of the coin. In the 9-1 loss, the one through three hitters in the order combined to go just 1-11 with no extra-base hits and no RBI. However, in the Pirates 9-6 victory in the opener, that same group went 4-15 (.265) with a home run and 3 RBI.
The man leading the charge at the top of the batting order right now is second baseman, Adam Frazier. In his last three games against the Tigers and Reds, he has combined to hit .308 with one home run and one RBI. Frazier has struggled out of the gate, like so many other Pirates players this year, so his season stats still don't look much better. In 71 at-bats this season, the 28-year-old is hitting a measly .183 with three home runs and five RBI. Frazier is showing more pop than he has in the past, but his consistent hitting has been the staple throughout his career. If he can get back to hitting the ball on a consistent basis as a leadoff guy, it would be a big boost not only to the Pirates lineup but for Frazier's trade value.
Another group that has to start the team out strong is the starting pitchers in the series. The Pirates rotation has gone through its share of bumps and bruises, and it shows in the three scheduled starters. JT Brubaker gets the ball in game one, followed by Steven Brault and Trevor Williams for the finale. Overall, the Pirates starters ERA is in the lower third of the league sitting 23rd at 5.19. However, over the last few weeks, those numbers have started to improve. Over their last three starts, the starting pitchers have pitched to a 4.50 ERA allowing six runs in 12 innings of work. However, only one starter this season has gone more than five innings, and it has taxed the bullpen. In order for the Pirates to be successful in this series, they need their starters to go deeper into the game to save their bullpen.
The Pittsburgh Pirates (4-14) kick off their series with the Cleveland Indians (13-9) at PNC Park tonight at 7:05 pm. JT Brubaker (0-0, 3.38) makes his second career start for the Pirates and he will be opposed by Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 3.22) for the Indians. You can watch the game live on AT&T Sportsnet, or listen live at 93.7 The Fan. The Pirates look to get back on the right track against their rivals from the American League Central.
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