Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Kansas City Royals Round 2: What to Expect
Memorial Day is a day when we remember all of those who sacrificed everything to preserve the freedoms we have today. Usually, it means an afternoon of family barbeques and baseball, followed by a fire in the evening. However, for the Pittsburgh Pirates, there is work to be done as they go on the road to face the Kansas City Royals. It isn't your typical afternoon game, as the two teams square off at 8:10 pm, and it is the shortest road trip of the year for the Pirates at just two games. These two teams faced off in late April and were two of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball. However, since then, both teams have come back down to Earth a little, the Pirates more so than the Royals.
However, the Pirates did bounce back nicely over the weekend, taking two of three from the Colorado Rockies, winning their first series since April against the Minnesota Twins. It was a big pick-me-up for the Pirates and helped them put what was a miserable month of May. With one more game to go in May, the Pirates are looking to end a month that has seen them go 8-21 and drop from 12-11 to their current mark of 20-32. Another win would put May behind them, and allow them a chance to start fresh for the month of June and get ready to head back home. However, the Royals stand in their way, and we get you ready with everything you need to know heading into this short two-game series.
What Happened Last Time
This series is essentially a continuation of a season-long four-game series that started back in late April back in PNC Park. Both teams entered the series hot, and both teams left the series hot as the team's earned a series split. It was a tale of two games, and the Pirates, who were surprising everyone at the time, took game one in a pitcher's duel 2-1. It was a first-inning RBI single by Colin Moran that got things going, and the Pirates would end up riding the coattails of a strong start from Tyler Anderson to the win. Game two was more of an offensive spectacle, where Jorge Soler put on a hitting clinic leading his team to a 9-6 win. The Pirates battled throughout the night but just weren't able to battle their way back.
As of late, the Royals have not had the cleanest road as they dropped three of their last five games. However, much like the Pirates, they bounced back in their last series taking two of three from the Minnesota Twins on the road. While the offense has struggled at times, the guy leading the way lately is a man who was injured the last time the Pirates took on the Royals. 25-year-old Adalberto Mondesi was reinstated off the injured list on May 25th and has been on a tear at the plate. He is hitting .318 with a home run and three RBI for the Royals and is showing that he can be a leader for the young rebuilding team. It will be a new look for the Pirates as their pitchers try to stop both Mondesi and Soler from making a show in this series.
Add Runs Late
In Sunday's series finale with the Rockies, the Pirates got out to a hot start, scoring three runs in the first four innings, but after that, they fell flat. The offense couldn't do anything against the Rockies bullpen and allowed the Rockies to not only stay in the game but battle their way back to victory. After the fifth inning, the Pirates couldn't seem to get anyone on base, and you could almost feel the momentum shift. The Pirates normally reliable bullpen was not effective and they ended up blowing a two-run lead. You can't blame them because every bullpen is going to blow a game now and then, but the offense needed to step up in support.
When the Pirates score five or more runs in a game this season, their record sits at 14-3 in those games. While they don't need to score all five runs at once, this is one example of why it is imperative that the offense add on late in games. It takes a lot of pressure off of the bullpen and allows them to just pitch, rather than worry about every single hit they give up As the game goes on, the Pirates offense has gotten worse this season even though they continue to fight. In the seventh inning, the Pirates are collectively hitting .217, in the eighth inning, the average drops to .205, and in the ninth inning, the average goes further to .205. As the game goes on, the offense continues to battle, but they need to work on their efficiency and getting on base more often.
Start A New in June
Let me preface this by saying that coming into the season, we knew the Pirates would not be competitive. However, they had a competitive month of April and had many fans excited about the future. Then that all went tumbling down in May as the Pirates dealt with injuries and came back to Earth a little. As we said before, they went a total of 8-21 during the month of May as they shuffled up the lineup and made several changes throughout the month. However, with June coming up, it is a chance for the Pirates to start a new putting a lousy month behind them and welcoming back some of their injured players to boost the lineup.
The first piece they welcome back is probably the biggest piece of them all in Ke'Bryan Hayes. Hayes has missed all but two games so far in 2021 as he has been out with a wrist injury. His first day back is supposed to be June 3rd against the Miami Marlins, and that will be a much-needed boost to the lineup. Hayes has been doing well on his rehab assignment both offensively and defensively and is looking to make an impact upon his return to the lineup. Colin Moran and Phillip Evans will follow close behind them adding some more power to both the line-up and the bench. These additions alone should help better the Pirates and an easier schedule in June could allow them to play some more competitive baseball.
The Pittsburgh Pirates (20-32) kick-off a short two-game series with the Kansas City Royals (25-26) at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City Missouri. Chad Kuhl (0-1, 6.32) makes his return from the Injured List when he takes on Mike Minor (3-2, 4.83) for the Royals. You can watch the game on AT&T Sportsnet or listen to 93.7 The Fan.
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