Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Colorado Rockies: What To Expect
It is no secret that the month of May has been a tough one for the Pittsburgh Pirates as a whole. After finishing April 12-10, and highly exceeding many fan's expectations, the Pirates have turned around and went just 6-19 over their last 25 games, and are coming off a series where they got swept by the Cubs. They have had a lot of tough competition this month, with two series against the Cardinals, two against the Cubs, and one against the Padres, that have really exposed the inexperience of this Pirates team. That, plus several injuries to key players, has left the Pirates limping through the month of May. However, several of those key players are on the mend right now, and after coming into May like a lamb they are hoping to come out of it like a lion.
They have a chance to do just that this Memorial Day weekend when they welcome in the Colorado Rockies for a three-game series. The Rockies are in a similar boat as the Pirates, a rebuilding team that is looking to get rid of star players for younger prospects. They too have made moves that have made the fan base unhappy, like the trade of Nolan Arenado, but they are hoping will help the team in the long run. It is a chance for the Pirates to see where they are at and how much work they really need to do restocking the system. This should be a series where the Pirates are able to compete and let some of their young guys shone against a Rockies team that has also struggled. We take a look at what to expect as the Pirates look to take a series to end the month of May.
Scouting The Rockies
While the overall numbers for the Rockies haven't been really good, as of late they have found a way to turn it on. They have won four of their last seven games but were swept in a doubleheader with the Mets entering this three-game series. They have fought their way out of the cellar of the NL West Division and currently sit in fourth place, 12.5 games behind the first-place San Diego Padres. In a division crowded by the Dodger, Padres, and suddenly hot Giants, the Rockies are a team that can get lost in the fold. However, they are in the top half of the league in terms of hitting with a .239 team average (11th in MLB). Where they lack is in the pitching department, ranking 25th in the league with a 4.89 team ERA.
When playing the Rockies, the guy you have to watch out for at the plate is Ryan McMahon. McMahon is off to a hot start this season hitting .262 with 13 home runs and 31 RBI. Over his first four seasons with the Rockies, he has struggled to find his footing in the Big Leagues. However, this season has been different as the 26-year-old has found his identity and is thriving at the plate. Of his 98 his this season, 23 have gone for extra-base hits, and with one swing of the bat, he is a guy who can change the complexion of the game. They also have 27-year-old Raimel Tapia at the top of their lineup, who leads the team with a. 263 batting average to go along with five home runs and 25 RBI. There may not be a lot of household names in the Rockies lineup, but they are a group that can do some damage when given the chance.
Build Off Momentum
Ever since the team's horrific 20-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves over the weekend, the Pirates offense just hasn't produced. They have scored a combined 10 runs in their last six games and have lost all six to fall to a season-low 13 games under .500. With so many injuries as of late, the offense has had no real leader to take control when things get bad. However, Gregory Polanco and Bryan Reynolds both had strong showings in the series finale with the Cubs, and are hoping to build off of that. All season long, the Pirates have been waiting for Polanco to hit a hot streak, but it just hasn't happened. However, he hit his team-leading fifth home run of the season in the finale with the Cubs and finished the day 1-4 with the RBI.
Polanco's average sits at just .208 with five home runs and 13 RBI and, while it is an improvement over last season, it is nowhere near where it should be. Hopefully, that hit can finally be the spark that gets him on track and into one of those hot streaks that the Pirates so desperately need. As for Reynolds, his average has stayed pretty consistent all season long and sits at .292 entering play tonight. He finished yesterday's game 2-3 with a home run and an RBI and was on base three times in the game. He is another guy who has struggled in big situations at times, but hopefully, this can get him going again. The Pirates offense has been one without a leader these last few weeks, and both Polanco and Reynolds need to step up and take those roles.
Hit The Reset Button
During this six-game losing streak, one of the biggest issues the Pirates have faced has seemed to be between the ears. When you watch them on the field, they just look defeated anytime a run is given up, or they can't capitalize on an opportunity. One of the biggest examples of this was when Ben Gamel was stranded on third in game two of the series. He hit a one-out triple and was not brought around, and the Pirates didn't get on the board. Gamel just looked defeated as he walked off the field as if to say here we go again. It is a similar look that has gotten Mitch Keller in trouble and has led to struggles at the plate by let contributors. The answer to this may be by just shutting down from baseball for a day.
Whether this means not taking batting practice for a day, or even just showing up to the ballpark later than normal. Something had gotten these pirates into a funk, and they need to find a way to work out of it. Their schedule gets a little easier over the next couple of weeks, with games against the Rockies, Marlins, and Royals, and it is a chance for the Pirates to rebound. Hopefully, the Pirates can use this stretch to get back on track of sorts and rack up some wins that they so desperately need. This is a young team, and we knew entering the year that they weren't going to be competitive. They just have to get back to basics and use the fundamentals of the game to play cleaner, and therefore more competitive games.
The Pittsburgh Pirates (18-31) open up a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies (19-32) at 6:35 pm. Mitch Keller (2-6, 7.41) is looking to get some consistency on the mound as he takes on Jon Gray (4-4, 3.43) for the Rockies. You can watch the game live on AT&T Sportsnet, listen on 93.7 The Fan, or follow along with us on Twitter by following @Buccos_Cove.
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