PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Is this 6-1 start the sign of something special or just like last year when the Bucs started 20-8 and ended up in fourth place.
There are obviously many similarities in the roster being only a year apart, but yet it’s also much different. There are major changes in the rotation. A new centerfielder, catcher, second baseman and first baseman while Andrew McCutchen returns for another season as the usual designated hitter.
It’s an exercise that is admittedly way too early, it’s SEVEN games, but it’s been a conversation among Pirates fans. With that mindset, let’s just compare the lineups from the day after the 20-8 start to that of what we believe to be the most common lineup in 2024
It was April 30 with the Pirates in first place
3B-Ke’Bryan Hayes
DH-Bryan Reynolds
RF-Miguel Andujar
1B-Carlos Santana
CF-Jack Suwinski
LF-Connor Joe
SS-Tucupita Marcano
2B-Ji Hwan Bae
C-Austin Hedges
Here is the Pirates lineup Thursday
SS Oneil Cruz—a potential impact bat at short compared to a rotation of minor leaguers after his injury in 2023
RF Bryan Reynolds
3B Ke’Bryan Hayes-he has taken the success from the last month of 2023 and carried it over. The 27-year-old says he’s back to hitting like he did his rookie season
LF Jack Suwinski
DH Connor Joe-similar hot start to last season for Joe who has gotten a number of opportunities at first this year due to facing left-handers early
1B Rowdy Tellez-first player where early on you could say the situation was better last year, at least with the every day player. That being said Tellez already has a huge home run
C Henry Davis-do we need to debate the difference offensively? While Hedges was more experienced behind the plate, Davis is holding his own
2B Jared Triolo-even with little experience there, Triolo has always played good defense & has potential at the plate
CF Michael A. Taylor-a missing piece, as Reynolds says Taylor solidifies the outfield defensively. He hit 21 homers last year and off to a fast start
Advantage 2024
It’s a lineup with some length and increased power potential with Cruz and potentially Davis and Tellez. A bench with Joe, Edward Olivares, Jason Delay or Joey Bart and Alika Williams (defensive specialist). Joshua Palacios and Liover Peguero headline the AAA group with former MLB hitters Billy McKinney and Jake Lamb there as well
The rotation 2023
Mitch Keller-was an All-Star, but struggled the last couple of months
Rich Hill-finished 7-10 with 4.76 ERA and was traded
Vince Velasquez-had a great start, but lasted only eight games before season-ending injury
Johan Oviedo-had 4.31 ERA in 177.2 innings with 1.37 WHIP
Roansy Contreras- 3-7, 6.59 ERA, 1.56 WHIP in 11 starts
Others who started--Luis Ortiz 15 games, Osvaldo Bido 9 starts, Quinn Priester 8, Andre Jackson and Bailey Falter 7 starts
Rotation this year (Oviedo out for the season)
Mitch Keller-slow start
Jared Jones-22-year-old struck out 10 in his MLB debut
Marco Gonzales-gave up a run in his first start
Martin Perez- a 2.45 ERA in 2 starts despite a 1.55 WHIP
Bailey Falter-struggled again in his first start
Other options—1st overall pick Paul Skenes waits in AAA, Ortiz, Contreras, Priester (seems to have velocity back), veterans Eric Lauer and Wily Peralta in AAA working to get back with three of their top seven prospects Braxton Ashcraft, Bubba Chandler, Anthony Solometo in AA.
Advantage 2024-mainly because of the infusion of youth with Jones and the potential with a pair of lefties. Skenes is in the next era of starters with three (Priester, Ortiz, Contreras) looking for another opportunity. You have the former Brewers starters working towards a potential a last shot with Lauer and Peralta and there is excitement with three starters in Altoona plus Michael Burrows will be back at some point from Tommy John surgery.
Defensively, close-the 2024 outfield is better with Taylor in the middle. The infield was probably better in 2023 with Santana and Hedges and without Cruz, but it’s not significantly worse this year.
Could the Pirates fall apart after a quick start again? Sure, injuries at key positions and fear with the rotation could be realized. It appears this team is at worst improving, at best… we’ll see.