Over the last seven days, the Pittsburgh Pirates have had the sixth highest OPS (827), and the fifth highest slugging (.503) in the league. Five of the six games they’ve played in the last week have been at home.
There has been a lot of player movement recently, but on a larger scale, the Pirates are 20th overall in home slugging this season vs. 25th on the road. While their home OPS is 21st in the league, and tied also for 25th on the road.
The Pirates currently have eight left-handed position players rostered, with Bryan Reynolds being a switch hitter making it nine against a right-handed pitcher.
In the upper levels, the Indianapolis Indians have six left-handed hitters, and one switch hitter. The Altoona Curve flip the script, only having four left-handed hitters, and no switch hitters. That’s not including Canaan Smith-Njigba (60 day IL), and Tyler Heineman (Paternity List) currently on the 40 man roster.
It could just be coincidental that the players seeing early success happen to be left-handed, but may also have been a key component in acquisitions to use PNC Park to their advantage.
Taking Jack Suwinski as one example, as fans and onlookers have made comments about how his “Swing is made for PNC” , he currently carries a 1.008 OPS at home, while only .519 on the road.
The team as a whole isn’t likely to carry Greensboro affiliate type splits over a full season, that tend to drastically skew towards home power, but it’s possible the Pirates are building to be a “powerhouse” at home.
YANKEES @ PIRATES
Time: 7:05 PM EST
Pirates Starter: Mitch Keller, (2-5, 5.14)
Yankees Starter: Luis Severino (4-3, 3.35)
Keller notes: Keller will look to get back to his recent stretch of success, after hitting a speed bump in Washington. He carries a 1-0 record and 3.89 ERA in his last seven games (six starts). His ERA by month has been slowly declining, going from 6.62 in April, to 5.19 in May, and finishing off June to the tune of a 4.10 ERA.
How Mitch Keller’s New Sinker Complements His Other Pitches
LINEUPS:
Pirates
Mitch on the mound.#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/PFKmnwUXkt
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 6, 2022
Yankees
1. DJ LeMahieu (R) 1B
2. Aaron Judge (R) CF
3. Matt Carpenter (L) RF
4. Giancarlo Stanton (R) DH
5. Gleyber Torres (R) 2B
6. Josh Donaldson (R) 3B
7. Joey Gallo (L) LF
8. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) SS
9. Kyle Higashioka (R) C
UPDATE:
We'll be in a delay at the start of tonight's game.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 6, 2022
Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/76pT10MvFf
