Predictable offensive woes already showing for Pirates

The Pirates have opened their 2025 season at 1-5 in Miami and Tampa Bay. Some preseason warnings have manifested as reasons for the slow start. Through the first six games, we’ve seen the predicted fielding concerns, bullpen issues, and back end of the rotation worries.

However, the red flags many were waving about the offense are quickly presenting themselves as more than just typical Pirates pessimism.

In their two most recent defeats against the Rays, the Pirates have racked up 25 strikeouts while failing to draw a walk. Tuesday night’s lineup made Tampa’s Shane Baz look every bit like the pitcher the Pirates selected in the first round of the 2017 MLB draft.

The 25-year-old right-hander posted 10 strikeouts with no walks in six shutout innings en route to a 7-0 win.

“He was good,” manager Derek Shelton said of Baz on SportsNet Pittsburgh after the game. “Velo was good. Both breaking balls. The slider, at times, looked a little bit bigger, but he executed it. He threw the change-up. He was in the zone and went right after (us). He did a nice job.”

Shane Baz's 8th, 9th and 10th Ks. pic.twitter.com/dmUFmYjgcs

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 2, 2025

The Pirates posted nine hits Tuesday. That was better than the four they managed to scratch out during Monday’s 6-1 loss. But none of them were for extra bases. Plus, the club was 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position.

“We had some situations where we had a runner on first and second, nobody out, a runner on first and second, one out. We just couldn’t get a ball to get through,” Shelton said. “We’ve got to get some balls in the gaps. Right now, we’re just not getting any of those.”

Over the last 22 innings, the Pirates have posted just one run. What really stands out is the team’s inability to extend a rally. They haven’t had a multi-run inning for the last four games.

The Pirates currently have an OPS of .543. That’s 27th in the National League. Their 15 runs are 25th. Their team batting average of .189 is 25th. Their 61 strikeouts are the second-most in baseball.

As a club, the Pirates have only three homers. The Yankees hit four in the first inning alone on Saturday afternoon.

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“In the Miami series, we had guys on base. We were able to be aggressive and go. I think we’ve got to get back to that,” Shelton added. “Sometimes that’s game dependent. We get down 3-0, (then) it’s a little bit hard to move. In the Miami series, we stole second (and) third multiple times. So I think it’s back to making sure that we’re able to run, then getting ourselves in position to do that. We haven’t done that the last two days.”

Whatever the reasons for the Pirates’ offensive ineptitude, it exists. As a result, the Pirates have been outscored 15-1 during the last 22 innings. Those numbers have come despite the fact that the bullpen has been good the last two nights, and the fielders have made just one error.

Don’t expect those two trends to continue. The offense better heat up, especially since the Yankees and their “torpedo” bats are coming to town this weekend to open up the home slate of games at PNC Park.

Look out on the Allegheny.