Re: MLB The Show 20 Franchise Discussion Thread
PITTSBURGH PIRATES FRANCHISE
August 12, 2020
The Pirates split the final two games against the Diamondbacks at home, before heading to St. Louis where they’d take 2 of 3 from the Cardinals. Make that 5-2 over our last 7, and a new high watermark of 15 games over .500.
Next up we head to Cincinnati for a HUGE 4 game set with the Reds. The Buccos currently trail the Reds by 2.5 games in the division, so here’s our chance to hammer away at that lead a bit if we can steal a series win. This is our last time playing the Reds until the very last series of the year, which will be a 4 game set at home n Pittsburgh.
After Cincinnati, we FINALLY get an off day. It will have been 17 straight games without one. It’s been a brutal stretch that’s taxed our bullpen and starting lineup heavily.
Erik Gonzalez has wrestled the starting second base job away from Kevin Kramer. Kramer started strong when he got called up from AAA, but has cooled off a bit the past few weeks. Gonzalez meanwhile has rode an 8-game hitting streak to a very solid stat line. In a career-high 157 at-bats on the season, he’s slashing .312/.341/.452. Kevin Newman is rehabbing a torn finger ligament and should return from the IL in about two weeks.
Trade deadline acquisition Sean Manaea got roughed up in his first start as a Pirate, but since then he’s been everything we could have hoped for. His numbers over his last 2 outings are beastly: 16 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 15 K, and ZERO runs allowed.
The team is 68-53. We hold the second wild card spot, and the Phillies hold the top spot by just a half game. The Cubs and Diamondbacks are both 3.0 behind us, with the Mets lurking (5.5) and the Brewers (7.0) a bit of a longshot.
The Braves and Phillies are separated by just a half game in the East, and they’ve been duking it out for the top spot pretty much all year. The Dodgers are running and hiding with a 15.5 game lead in the west. They have the best record in baseball (81-41).
In the AL, the Yankees have the best record at 73-48 and lead the East by 11.5 games over the Rays. The central division is a tight one: the Twins currently lead but the Tribe and White Sox are both within 3 games. The Astros lead the Angels by 6 games in the West.
The Indians and White Sox hold the two wild card spots with the Angels (2.5 out), Rangers (5.0), and Rays (6.5) still in the hunt.
Dodgers-Yankees has felt like destiny for a while now, and is still the popular choice for a world series matchup.
Other storylines to watch:
Mike Trout is having an unreal season (who’s surprised?) He’s slashing .354/.448/.723 and has a 9.4 WAR already. We could be talking about one of the greatest seasons in baseball history if he keeps up the pace.
Justin Turner leads the majors with 38 home runs. He’s also batting .320 and is the frontrunner for NL MVP. Some guys just get better with age.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES FRANCHISE
August 12, 2020
The Pirates split the final two games against the Diamondbacks at home, before heading to St. Louis where they’d take 2 of 3 from the Cardinals. Make that 5-2 over our last 7, and a new high watermark of 15 games over .500.
Next up we head to Cincinnati for a HUGE 4 game set with the Reds. The Buccos currently trail the Reds by 2.5 games in the division, so here’s our chance to hammer away at that lead a bit if we can steal a series win. This is our last time playing the Reds until the very last series of the year, which will be a 4 game set at home n Pittsburgh.
After Cincinnati, we FINALLY get an off day. It will have been 17 straight games without one. It’s been a brutal stretch that’s taxed our bullpen and starting lineup heavily.
Erik Gonzalez has wrestled the starting second base job away from Kevin Kramer. Kramer started strong when he got called up from AAA, but has cooled off a bit the past few weeks. Gonzalez meanwhile has rode an 8-game hitting streak to a very solid stat line. In a career-high 157 at-bats on the season, he’s slashing .312/.341/.452. Kevin Newman is rehabbing a torn finger ligament and should return from the IL in about two weeks.
Trade deadline acquisition Sean Manaea got roughed up in his first start as a Pirate, but since then he’s been everything we could have hoped for. His numbers over his last 2 outings are beastly: 16 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 15 K, and ZERO runs allowed.
The team is 68-53. We hold the second wild card spot, and the Phillies hold the top spot by just a half game. The Cubs and Diamondbacks are both 3.0 behind us, with the Mets lurking (5.5) and the Brewers (7.0) a bit of a longshot.
The Braves and Phillies are separated by just a half game in the East, and they’ve been duking it out for the top spot pretty much all year. The Dodgers are running and hiding with a 15.5 game lead in the west. They have the best record in baseball (81-41).
In the AL, the Yankees have the best record at 73-48 and lead the East by 11.5 games over the Rays. The central division is a tight one: the Twins currently lead but the Tribe and White Sox are both within 3 games. The Astros lead the Angels by 6 games in the West.
The Indians and White Sox hold the two wild card spots with the Angels (2.5 out), Rangers (5.0), and Rays (6.5) still in the hunt.
Dodgers-Yankees has felt like destiny for a while now, and is still the popular choice for a world series matchup.
Other storylines to watch:
Mike Trout is having an unreal season (who’s surprised?) He’s slashing .354/.448/.723 and has a 9.4 WAR already. We could be talking about one of the greatest seasons in baseball history if he keeps up the pace.
Justin Turner leads the majors with 38 home runs. He’s also batting .320 and is the frontrunner for NL MVP. Some guys just get better with age.
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