The Pirates have scored 1 or less run in 5 of their last 6 games. I’m not sure if they’ll be able to hit their way out of this funk against Reds right hander Anthony DeSclafani – but I’m betting that they’ll swing away with abandon trying to do so.
The Pirates have been worse than anyone could have imagined since the middle of the season. They have won just 8 of their last 40 games. Their win rate over their last 50 games would reflect a record breaking low of around 32 wins over a full season. That would be the lowest total since the 19th century – 4 wins less than the previous record set by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1916. No one wants to be compared to the Philadelphia Athletics of 1916, especially not their interstate little brothers a hundred plus years their junior.
The Pirates have already become more liberal at the plate during this anemic stretch. Pittsburgh sports a 33% strikeout rate since August 9th.
DeSclafani has 5+ K’s in 7 out of his last 10 starts. In two of the three instances he failed to record 5 K’s, he didn’t last into the 5th inning. Against this tame Pirates lineup, I like the chances of the Reds letting him go longer into the game than usual.