The past week has presented a contrasting experience for the Pittsburgh Pirates following their return from the MLB All-Star intermission.
The Pirates began the latter portion of their regular-season schedule by succumbing to a series sweep by the Chicago White Sox, who hold the lowest rank in the American League. Subsequently, they secured a series sweep against the Detroit Tigers, who commenced the series with the highest standing in the AL.
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The Pirates finalized their three-game sweep of the Tigers on Wednesday with a 6-1 victory, which also propelled the Houston Astros past Detroit for the top position in the AL. The Pirates previously triumphed 8-5 on Tuesday and 3-0 on Monday, bolstered by six scoreless innings from Paul Skenes.
Spencer Horowitz propelled Wednesday’s triumph with a second-inning grand slam against Tigers pitcher Troy Melton.
Pirates pitcher Bailey Falter earned the victory with seven innings of allowing only one run on the pitching mound.
According to Elias Sports Bureau, the sweep of the Tigers marks the Pirates as the first team since the 1980 San Diego Padres to undergo a series sweep by the worst team in a league and then sweep the best team in the league in successive series after the season’s midpoint.
The third straight defeat to Pittsburgh relegated the Tigers to 60-43, marginally behind the Houston Astros (60-42) for the best record in the AL — although the Blue Jays (.584) also possess a slightly superior winning percentage compared to the Tigers (.583) owing to having played two fewer games.
The White Sox, meanwhile, continue to languish at the bottom of the AL with a 36-66 (.354) record.
So, what is the true identity of the Pirates? Their performance record provides an indication.
Despite the sweep of the Tigers, the Pirates persist as one of the less successful teams in baseball and are positioned at the base of the NL Central with a 42-61 (.408) record. This is a team that has managed a 5-8 record for Skenes, a Cy Young contender boasting a 1.91 ERA and 0.91 WHIP.
The sweep of the Tigers stands out as a highlight of their season, yet it does not necessarily foreshadow broader implications for the Pirates.
