Pirates perfectly average at MLB All-Star break

A great start to the season, one of the best starts in years… pinch me I must be dreaming!

Following the series sweep of the Chicago White Sox, the Pittsburgh Pirates are finishing the first half of the season with a .500 record, and are sitting just 1.5 games back in the Wild-Card race. A far cry from the preferred situation, but at this point in the year, it’s gotta be all smiles for Buccos fans.

To be frank, I couldn’t be happier with the way the team has been playing as of late. In their last 10, they are 7-3 with a four-game winning streak, and two players going to the All-Star Game in Arlington. Given how the team’s season started out as well, this is an incredible comeback from a team that looked lost early on in the season.

Just like the Pirates seem to do every year, they started off great, winning a good string of games and showing early momentum, with manager Derek Shelton looking like the greatest in-game decision maker of all time. The pitching staff was on fire with both the starters and bullpen looking elite, while it was bombs away for the offense. Then of course they go through the second act where they look like a ship without a captain and the raising of the Jolly Roger being more of a distant memory. If this is your first season with the Buccos, sometimes the second act takes a little longer to end than it should.

This year’s turnaround in July was something that just couldn’t fully take shape in 2023. Last season saw a lot of call-ups with mixed results and several key players battling through injury and just not being able to regularly contribute. This season, the team has been riding high with several key players coming up big for the surging club. Bryan Reynolds and Paul Skenes were both named to the All-Star Game after having their own dominant stretches. Reynolds had a 25-game hitting streak, while Skenes is having maybe the best rookie season in Pirates’ history after only being drafted a year ago.

Meanwhile Aroldis Chapman and Andrew McCutchen are turning back the clock and playing mostly quality baseball at this point in the season, with the former setting records for relievers in the process. In addition to that, Ke’Bryan Hayes is also starting to turn a corner with his production at the plate, and Mitch Keller is still quietly having a good season himself.

With a 162-game season, sometimes the talent on the field isn’t as crucial as when the team gets in a good rhythm. For this Pittsburgh team, they’re getting hot at a great time in the long season. A couple game break for the All-Star game, and right back at it is what the team is looking to accomplish.

Given that they’re experiencing great energy now, there’s no doubt in my mind that a postseason atmosphere would also have this team in a great spot. Again, sitting just 1.5 games back in the Wild Card standings, there’s a very real chance that we could experience “Buctober” once again, something that has shown in the past to be a great environment when the team is at its best.

It’s only the first half, but there’s no denying the team is in a great spot. I’m almost upset that they are taking this short break because they have such great momentum after this weekend. But one thing at a time, as the Pirates look to come together against Philadelphia following the break in what should be a great preview to how the second half of the season plays out.