Demilio: Pirates’ Bullpen Has Been Pleasant Surprise in Early Stages (+)
The Pittsburgh Pirates have gotten out to a hot start this season with a 4-2 record including a sweep over the Boston Red Sox. Several factors have played into the Bucs starting the season on the right foot.
Sure, Bryan Reynolds has been exceptional through the team’s first six games. And yes, Roansy Contreras and Mitch Keller delivered back-to-back strong starts on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.
This is all true, and those three players have all been major reasons for the Pirates’ early success and others have contributed too.
But the main reason? The Pittsburgh Pirates’ bullpen, perhaps surprisingly, has been dominant.
Entering the season, the bullpen was viewed as a question mark, especially in wake of injuries to veterans Robert Stephenson and Jarlín García, who both have begun the year on the injured list.
David Bednar was the only reliever on the Pirates’ opening day roster who has had sustained success in the big leagues. After all, he was an All-Star last season.
Outside of Bednar, the Pirates’ bullpen consists of inconsistent arms and some unproven — and largely untested — young pitchers.
To the credit of the guys in the bullpen, they have performed great. Through six games to start the season, the Pirates have the fourth-lowest bullpen ERA in the big leagues with a current mark of 1.77 (4er/20.1ip). Three of those four runs came on one swing against Chase De Jong, who surrendered a three-run home run in the second game of the season against the Reds.
Outside of De Jong that game? An immaculate 0.49 ERA (1er/18.1ip).
The eight guys in the current bullpen have the following stats:
- David Bednar: 0.00 ERA, 0er/3ip
- Colin Holderman: 0.00 ERA, 0er/3ip
- Duane Underwood Jr.: 0.00 ERA, 0er/3.1ip
- Dauri Moreta: 0.00 ERA, 0er/2.1ip
- Wil Crowe: 0.00 ERA, 0er/2ip
- Jose Hernandez: 0.00 ERA, 0er/1.1ip
- Rob Zastryzny: 2.70 ERA, 1er/3.1ip
- Chase De Jong: 13.50 ERA, 3er/2ip
Outside of the one swing against De Jong and a single blemish against Zastryzny, who otherwise has looked sharp, the other six members of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ bullpen have put up zeroes in each of their outings.
Opponents are only hitting .203 against the Pirates’ relief arms while the bullpen has combined for 21 strikeouts.
Additionally, the Pirates are tied for the league lead with the Cleveland Guardians with four saves. The Guardians, however, have blown two save opportunities while the Pirates have gone a perfect 4 for 4. Bednar has recorded three saves while Underwood collected the save on Wednesday in Boston.
Last season, the Pirates’ bullpen was tied with the Reds for the second worst ERA with a 4.72 mark, trailing only the Colorado Rockies. It’s no coincidence that last year’s Pirates’ team finished with an abysmal 62-100 record.
It’s also not a coincidence that the Pirates are 4-2 through two series this season with how this year’s bullpen has performed.
While the sample size is small and it’s impossible to predict how the bullpen will perform in the future, the Pirates might go as far as this bullpen can take them.
If they continue to perform at a high level like how they have done so far, who knows what this season might hold for the Pittsburgh Pirates.