PITTSBURGH -- Heading into the year, the Pirates believed they were a team built around their starting pitching. A month into the season, they looked to be right.
With more than four months in the books, their starting rotation presents more questions than answers. As stingy as they were in April, their pitching staff entered Sunday’s series finale against the Mets with a 4.95 ERA that ranked seventh-worst in the Majors. It didn’t get any better as starter Joe Musgrove allowed eight runs on 10 hits while recording 10 outs in the Pirates’ 13-2 loss to the Mets at PNC Park.
The Bucs have lost seven straight series and 18 of 22 games since the All-Star break. Pittsburgh is 15 games below .500 for the first time since the morning of Sept. 24, 2017.
The Pirates’ pitching has been part of the problem. The staff has put together a combined 5.42 ERA in the second half, bringing their overall mark to 5.00, and their rotation has recorded only nine quality starts in the last 22 games.
“Short-term results have not been what any of us are looking for,” Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said after the Trade Deadline. “But we do believe that we’ve got the core of a good rotation, and we’ll look to add to it if something makes sense this offseason.”
Injuries are partly to blame. Opening Day starter Jameson Taillon threw his last pitch of the season on May 1. Trevor Williams missed a month and struggled for another month after his return. Steven Brault has been out more than a month, and his shoulder strain came amid the best stretch of his career in the Majors. After his excellent start to the season, Jordan Lyles dealt with a hamstring issue and wasn’t the same between that and his trade to the Brewers. Chris Archer was briefly sidelined by a right thumb injury.
As a result, their depth has been tested and often exposed. Aside from rookie Dario Agrazal, who has a 3.65 ERA in seven starts, Brault has been their only effective backup plan. Nick Kingham faltered until he was designated for assignment. Their experiment with the opener was short-lived. Top prospect Mitch Keller will be back, and likely better, but he’s still working in Triple-A after a shaky introduction to the Majors.
The only starter who’s been healthy all season, their team leader in starts, is Musgrove -- and Huntington often notes that Musgrove and Archer underwent core surgery in the offseason.
Musgrove had arguably been the Bucs’ best starter of late, too, as he entered Sunday’s matchup with a 3.09 ERA over his last eight starts. But Musgrove’s numbers moved in the wrong direction on Sunday afternoon.
The right-hander allowed two home runs in the first inning, a solo shot by Michael Conforto and a towering two-run blast by J.D. Davis. He gave up hits to five of the first six Mets he faced in a three-run third inning. In the fourth, he hit Jeff McNeil with a pitch before serving up a double to Conforto and a single to Todd Frazier.
“They were aggressive. That first inning, a couple balls over the middle of the plate led to the long balls,” Musgrove said. “From that point on, I felt like I was doing a good job of getting them on the ground and getting them on the ground quick. It just seemed like every ball they hit was either one step to the left or right of our infielders, or we bring our guys in to try to cut off a run and the ball dribbles past guys.”
Indeed, the Mets slapped a handful of grounders past the Pirates’ drawn-in infield and a couple of popups found outfield grass. But Musgrove admitted his pitches did not have their usual finish, in part because he was pitching with a stiff back, and the Mets capitalized.
After eight runs, 10 hits, 11 hard-hit balls and 71 pitches in 3 1/3 innings, Musgrove was done for the day. Manager Clint Hurdle marched to the mound and summoned right-hander Yefry Ramirez from the bullpen.
“The mistakes in the zone, at times, his stuff just didn’t have good finish to it and they took advantage of it,” Hurdle said of Musgrove. “Some ground balls found holes, but then balls found the other side of the fence, too. Combination of everything.”
Musgrove has already set career highs in starts (23), innings (124 2/3), wins (eight) and strikeouts (109). But his ERA now sits at 4.69 on the year, and he expects better of himself.
“My goal this year is to make 32 starts and be healthy and take the ball when it’s my turn,” Musgrove said. “Ultimately, you don’t want to just run out there and pitch to pitch. I want to be successful, and I want to provide my team with a chance to win.
“It doesn’t feel good having outings like this, but being healthy and being able to take the ball every fifth day is something I’m taking a lot of pride in this year.”