Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates GM counting on internal options to provide improvement (2024)

Even though the Pittsburgh Pirates had a better record at this time last year — they were 29-27 on June 2, just a half-game back and days from moving into first place in the NL Central — general manager Ben Cherington made an interesting statement Sunday about this year’s team.

“The simplest thing, we think we’re better than we were at this point than last year, whatever the standings said,” Cherington said Sunday afternoon on his weekly radio show on 93.7 FM. “We think we’re a better, deeper team. We think we can continue to get better over the course of 2024. We look at the team and what’s working well and areas where we need to get better at.”

Cherington is painfully aware the Pirates (27-32) are nine games back and in fourth place in the division, though the reason for his optimism is that they are only two games back in the wild-card race.

Then again, that could change with the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers (38-23) visiting for a three-game series with a lineup featuring four of the NL’s top 10 OPS leaders. Facing Shohei Ohtani (.988), Mookie Betts (.927), Freddie Freeman (.876) and Will Smith (.866) will serve as the biggest test for Pirates rookie right-handers Jared Jones and Paul Skenes and lefty Bailey Falter.

Where The Pirates’ starting rotation has been far better than anticipated, providing 30 quality starts through the first 59 games despite losing lefties Marco Gonzales and Martin Perez to the injured list, Cherington acknowledged the Pirates haven’t had all phases in sync this season. There have been stretches of offensive ineptitude, blown leads by the bullpen and occasional lapses on defense.

“We haven’t gotten every part of the roster clicking kind of all at the same time. That’s what we’re certainly working toward,” Cherington said. “We’re deep enough into this season now that we know a lot about who we are. We know what’s working and what needs to get better. And it’s also a part of the season still where most of getting better is the guys who are here, the guys who are wearing Pirates uniforms, whether that’s on the team in Pittsburgh or in the minor leagues or a combination.”

That becomes the biggest question: Is help on the way?

1. For starters

The postponement of Tuesday’s game at Detroit — despite no rain — and subsequent doubleheader Wednesday forced the Pirates to do something they hadn’t expected.

They needed to add a fifth starting pitcher, even though there were scheduled days off Thursday and Monday. Rookie right-hander Quinn Priester got the call Sunday but blew a two-run lead in the fifth inning of a 5-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Whether Priester stays in the rotation remains to be seen, given Pirates manager Derek Shelton’s comments about the ineffectiveness of his sinker on SportsNet Pittsburgh’s postgame show.

“The big thing we’ve got to take away is he’s got to put the ball on the ground,” Shelton said. “That sinker has got to be a pitch that he effectively uses, and I think we saw that for the first couple innings and then it just kind of flattened out as we got through the outing.”

When Cherington was asked about Domingo German at Triple-A Indianapolis, where the former Yankees righty is 0-2 with a 6.46 ERA and 1.83 WHIP with 16 strikeouts and 11 walks in 15 1/3 innings over three starts, it didn’t sound like an imminent option.

“We think he’s in a really good spot,” Cherington said. “He’s been able to join that rotation in Indy and take a regular turn. We’re seeing good progress each time he’s out.”

Cherington warned that German, who signed in mid-March and dealt with visa issues, hasn’t shown the same velocity on his four-seam fastball as he did in averaging 92.7 mph the past two years.

Cherington said German has an assortment of pitches, relying more on command and deception, and will require more time in the minors to build velocity and get his feel for pitches back.

“He’s still creeping towards that velocity. We’re not quite there,” Cherington said. “Maybe not surprising, given the amount of time that he missed and kind of a strange spring training and early part of the season for him. We’re going to continue to give him those regular reps, hoping to let that arm strength build.”

2. Bullpen blues

The blown leads have been the biggest issue for the Pirates, who have had to rely on young relievers Carmen Mlodzinski, Kyle Nicolas and Hunter Stratton in middle relief.

The Pirates could turn to righties Brent Honeywell Jr., Ben Heller or Wily Peralta at Indy if they want to add a veteran to the bullpen while waiting for lefty Ryan Borucki to recover from his injury, but that would require a 40-man roster move.

Otherwise, it limits the scope of what the Pirates can do with Luis Ortiz, who drew praise from Cherington for developing a “full complement” of pitches after relying primarily on his four-seam fastball and slider early in his career.

A converted starter, Ortiz mixed his four-seamer with a cutter, slider and sinker to get nine called strikes and two whiffs to record three strikeouts in three scoreless innings in Saturday’s 8-1 win. Cherington didn’t rule out Ortiz returning to the rotation, though he has to prove he can get through a lineup a third time.

“Obviously, there’s going to be ups and downs. Not every outing is going to be like (Saturday). That was really impressive,” Cherington said. “He was just pounding the strike zone. He certainly looked like a starting pitcher for three innings, which I think is really encouraging for us, both the decision to put him on the (major-league) team but also that his skills continued to improve in that role to the point that we might keep open options in the future.”

3. Backstop stopgap

Although backup catcher Grant Koch has been a feel-good story after his promotion from the taxi squad to make his major-league debut, his bat is an issue.

Koch is hitless in three games, with six strikeouts and one walk, and it could be only a matter of time before the Pirates make a move behind the plate.

Cherington said Joey Bart (left thumb) is expected to remain on the 10-day injured list “longer than the minimum stay,” and doesn’t expect him to return to baseball activities until mid- to late June.

They could recall Henry Davis, as the 2021 No. 1 overall pick is batting .296/.436/.642 with seven doubles, seven home runs and 17 RBIs, with 25 strikeouts and 10 walks in 23 games since being optioned to Indianapolis on May 3. Shelton warned the Pirates are making Davis’ development at the plate a priority, which is why Koch got the call when Bart was injured.

The Pirates also could choose to activate Jason Delay (right knee), who has “pretty much checked all the boxes” after four games in his rehabilitation assignment at Indianapolis.

“I think he’s pretty close to the point where it’ll be no longer a question of whether he’s on the IL or not; just more of a question where the best spot is for him,” Cherington said. “We’ll see what happens in the next couple of days.”

4. RISP woes

A problem that has plagued the Pirates this season has been their production, or lack thereof, with runners in scoring position.

After going 10 for 51 (.196) in five games at Detroit and Toronto — including 1 for 15 Friday and 3 for 16 Sunday against the Blue Jays — the Pirates rank 29th in batting average (.207), 28th in OPS (.637), 26th in on-base percentage (.302) and have the second-most strikeouts (150) with runners in scoring position.

Nick Gonzales (.316) and Connor Joe (.313) have been their most productive hitters in scoring situations, and Andrew McCutchen (.453) and Joe (.424) have their best OBP.

The problem is, No. 2 hitter Bryan Reynolds has a .212 batting average and .668 OPS with runners in scoring position, and Oneil Cruz is batting .192 with a .596 OPS in such situations.

There is a potential internal solution to the problem.

Stay hot, Matt Gorski ????

The @Pirates prospect drills his seventh home run in his past 12 games for the @indyindians. pic.twitter.com/9kocu9DcYK

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) May 27, 2024

5. Gorski goes wild

Matt Gorski had a monster month at Indianapolis, with nine home runs among his 15 extra-base hits and 28 RBIs, including a pair of five-RBI games.

The 26-year-old Gorski, a 2019 second-round pick from Indiana, is batting .275/.313/.611 with seven doubles, five triples, 11 homers and 40 RBIs in 44 games in Triple-A. Even better, he is hitting .350 with a 1.113 OPS with runners in scoring position.

“It’s been a great story. He’s opening some eyes,” Cherington said. “Obviously, he’s been on a real heater. We’re keeping track of it.”

The question is where Gorski will play. The 6-foot-2, 198-pounder is a natural outfielder but has made 10 starts at first base this season as the Pirates search for a long-term solution at the position.

“He’s getting there,” Cherington said. “He’s a really good athlete, so it’s just a matter of reps and getting comfortable with all the reads and different angles you have to encounter at that position. He’s a good athlete and a good baseball player, so we’re confident he can do it. It’s been great to see him perform at this level.

“He’s always had the skills, the raw tools. Obviously, he can hit the ball really hard. He can run. He’s got defensive skill in the outfield. Consistency with his at-bats, consistency with what he’s trying to do at the plate, has been the thing that he’s focused on in the minor leagues. It’s great to see that it’s starting to turn into results.”