The Pittsburgh Pirates are not exactly a playoff team.
And, while they are currently third in the NL Central division, they aren’t really good, as their record is 33-47 and their run differential is -113.
They are slowly improving, though, and they have several good, young pieces to build for the future, most notably Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz.
The most surprising development about the 2022 Pirates, however, is how competent they have looked against some of the top teams in the league, namely the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“The Pirates are 6-1 against the Yankees and the Dodgers,” Joe Block, a member of the Pirates broadcast team, tweeted.
The Pirates are 6-1 against the Yankees and the Dodgers
— Joe Block (@joe_block) July 6, 2022
Indeed, numbers are numbers, and facts are facts: the Pirates may not be a good team, but against both of those opponents, they have played like All-Stars.
Baseball Is Always Full Of Surprises
It’s a bit surprising, but it’s part of the magic of baseball: it always leaves some room for unexpected outcomes.
Pittsburgh handled the Yankees 5-2 on Tuesday night, thanks to an incredible outing by starter Jose Quintana.
Quintana, who is generating buzz ahead of the deadline as a potential trade piece, allowed a single run in five innings, with six hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts.
Wil Crowe, Duane Underwood Jr., and David Bednar finished the job.
Pittsburgh is showing signs of a team that could contend in a couple of years if they play their cards right and don’t tear up their roster again.
That’s easier said than done given the franchise’s recent behavior and approach towards the trade market.
It would be nice for baseball if they tried to win for once.
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