MLB.com Names Pirates Biggest Question After Trade Deadline

The Pittsburgh Pirates are in the playoff conversation but still have questions to answer moving forward.

Pittsburgh made some big moves at the MLB Trade Deadline, a change-up from their usual method. The Pirates added Bryan De La Cruz and Isiah Kiner-Falefa to their lineup while acquiring Jalen Beeks and Josh Walker for the bullpen.

These moves were made with the goal of making it to the postseason for the first time since 2015. But there are questions to be answered before they get there, especially with the lineup.

MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf named the Pirates’ biggest question following the MLB Trade Deadline, making it simple: “Will the offense get going?”

“The Pirates definitely deepened their lineup at the deadline, picking up Bryan De La Cruz and Isiah Kiner-Falefa for the Major League squad and Triple-A prospects Nick Yorke and Billy Cook in reserve,” Stumpf wrote the MLB.com article. “The only question is whether it’s enough? Their 447 runs entering play Wednesday were the ninth-fewest in baseball, and their .670 team OPS was the third-lowest. They added a couple of good bats, and it won’t take a Herculean offensive effort to win with this rotation and restocked bullpen in tow. But they have to prove they can take that leap.”

It remains to be seen what this offense can do from here on out, but the spark is necessary with their playoff chances so high. Pittsburgh managed to score 14 runs in the series against the Houston Astros while taking two of three from them, so there’s reason to believe.

The Pirates are 6.0 games back of the National League Central crown but just 2.5 games back of the final NL Wild Card spot. They’ll have their shot to keep fighting back when the series with the Arizona Diamondbacks kicks off Friday at 6:40 p.m. EST at PNC Park.

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