The Pittsburgh Pirates are at a fascinating crossroads in the 2023 MLB season. Their starting rotation has become one of the best in baseball, but the offense keeps falling short, creating a sharp imbalance that’s defined their year.
A recent four-game series against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field really summed things up. The Pirates showed off brilliant pitching, but just couldn’t score enough runs to back it up.
The Pirates’ Starting Rotation Proves to Be Elite
The clear bright spot in Pittsburgh this year has been the starting pitching. Since early May, the rotation has put together some incredible numbers, leading all of Major League Baseball in innings pitched and holding down an MLB-low ERA of 2.97.
They’ve racked up 34 quality starts, which is the third-most in the league. That’s not something you see every day from this club.
Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller: Leading the Charge
Two names keep popping up: Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller. Both pitchers are tied for the most individual quality starts in baseball this season, with 11 each.
Skenes brings electric stuff to the mound, while Keller delivers gem after gem with impressive consistency. They’ve carried the Pirates through some tight games.
But there’s a problem—Keller’s strong outings just haven’t been rewarded. Despite his 11 quality starts, the team has a rough 3-8 record in those games, and Keller himself sits at a frustrating 1-9.
His latest start against the Cubs followed the same pattern. He pitched well, but the Pirates dropped the game in extra innings, 3-2.
The Offense: A Persistent Problem
The pitching deserves credit, but the offense has been a real sore spot. The Pirates have an MLB-worst .638 team OPS and have scored just 232 runs—the lowest in the league.
They just can’t seem to turn good pitching into wins. Run production remains their Achilles’ heel, and it keeps costing them games they should probably win.
Series vs. Cubs Highlights Offensive Struggles
The recent series against the Cubs made the offensive struggles impossible to ignore. Every game was low-scoring and close, with three ending in one-run losses.
Even their lone win felt like a struggle, with barely enough offense to squeak by. The Pirates just can’t seem to give themselves any breathing room.
In Sunday’s finale, Keller pitched well again, but the bats stayed quiet. Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner even robbed a key hit with a diving catch, which pretty much sums up how things have gone—good defense and pitching, but missed chances at the plate.
The Mental Game: Optimism Amid Challenges
Despite all the frustration, the Pirates are still trying to stay optimistic. Team leaders keep pointing to the clubhouse atmosphere, solid preparation, and a focus on sticking together.
They hope those same qualities will eventually help the offense wake up. It’s not easy, but you get the sense they’re not ready to give up on the season just yet.
Moving Forward: What the Pirates Need to Compete
Even with elite pitching, the Pirates are learning that you need some offense to win consistently. If the bats don’t pick up soon, they’re probably in for more close, low-scoring games.
This keeps them in the mix, but it’s tough to imagine a deep postseason run without some changes. To make the most of what Skenes, Keller, and the rest of the rotation are doing, the Pirates need to shake things up—maybe tweak their strategies, get more out of the current lineup, or look for help at the trade deadline.
Conclusion: Waiting for Balance
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a team of contrasts. On one hand, they’ve got elite pitching that keeps them in games they probably shouldn’t be in.
But let’s be honest—the offense has been a mess. Their lineup just can’t seem to get it going, and it’s holding them back from any real consistency.
If the Pirates could just pair that pitching with a halfway decent offense, things might look a lot different. Until that happens, fans are in for more tight, nerve-wracking games.
Maybe the bats will wake up as the season rolls on. Pirates fans can only hope.
Here is the source article for this story: Cold bats spoil more dominant pitching for Pirates in series loss vs. Cubs
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