Pirates

Wild Card Watch: Pirates in Contention as Calendar Flips to August

Published

2 months ago

August 2, 2024

Pittsburgh Pirates, Derek Shelton, Wild Card

For the past handful of seasons, the flip of the calendar from July to August usually meant the Pittsburgh Pirates were already looking towards next season.

At this time in years past, the Pirates would have just wrapped up a trade deadline by dealing away players from the major-league roster in return for young assets they were hoping would impact the roster down the road.

But this year is different. For the first time under Ben Cherington and Derek Shelton, the Pirates bought at the deadline and are right in the thick of the National League wild card race. The Pirates added outfielder Bryan De La Cruz, utilityman Isiah Kiner-Falefa and left-handed reliever Jalen Beeks to the active roster in what proved to be a busy deadline.

Entering play on Friday, the Pirates are 2.5 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for the third wild card spot. It just so happens that Friday is the start of a three-game series against the Diamondbacks at PNC Park.

Here’s how the wild card race looks with under two months to go in the regular season.

1st Place: Atlanta Braves (59-49, +1.5)

The Braves have dealt with a handful of significant this season but still have control on the top wild card spot in the National League. They’ve won three in a row and five of their last six games.

Trade Additions: OF Jorge Soler, RHP Luke Jackson

Up Next: The Braves conclude their four-game series against the last-place Miami Marlins (40-69) this weekend in Atlanta.

2nd Place: San Diego Padres (59-51, +0.5)

The Padres are scorching. They just took two-straight from the Los Angeles Dodgers and were winners in nine of their final 10 games of July.

Trade Additions: RHP Jason Adam, LHP Tanner Scott, RHP Bryan Hoeing, LHP Martín Pérez

Up Next: A weekend series with the lowly Colorado Rockies (40-70) at home.

3rd Place: Arizona Diamondbacks (58-51, –)

Arizona wrapped up a successful week of play in which they took two out of three from the Pirates and completed a sweep against the Washington Nationals.

Trade Additions: LHP A.J. Puk, 1B Josh Bell, RHP Dylan Floro

Up Next: A three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates (55-53) at PNC Park.

4th Place: New York Mets (57-51, 0.5 GB)

The Mets looked finished earlier in the season but have been playing very well over the last couple of months and are right in the thick of the wild card race.

Trade Additions: RHP Ryne Stanek, OF Jesse Winker, RHP Paul Blackburn, RHP Huascar Brazoban

Up Next: Three games this weekend against the Los Angeles Angels (47-62) in Anaheim.

5th Place: St. Louis Cardinals (56-53, 2.0 GB)

Of any team in the wild card mix, the Cardinals have the worst run differential (-36) but are only a couple of games behind from the third spot. They’ve gone 4-6 over their last 10 games.

Trade Additions: RHP Erick Fedde, OF Tommy Pham, RHP Shawn Armstrong

Up Next: A weekend series against the Chicago Cubs (53-58) at Wrigley Field.

6th Place: Pittsburgh Pirates (55-53, 2.5 GB)

The Pirates wrapped up their six-game road trip with a 3-3 record. Their next four series are against teams currently in the playoff picture, so it’s a tough yet crucial stretch of play coming up for Pittsburgh.

Trade Additions: LHP Jalen Beeks, OF Bryan De La Cruz, INF/OF Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Up Next: A six-game homestand with three games against the Diamondbacks (58-51) and three agaisnt the Padres (59-51)