How good has the Pirates’ starting pitching been of late?

Good enough that on a day when the franchise’s anemic offense tied an MLB record for run scoring futility, the Pirates still managed to win.

For a second game in a row.

Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over the Reds marked the 26th consecutive game that the Pirates failed to score more than four runs. Since 1920, that’s a Major League Baseball record matched only by the California Angels in 1969 and the Boston Braves in 1931.

Consider that ignominious statistical accomplishment from this point of view. In 2025, MLB teams are averaging 4.34 runs per game. So the Pirates haven’t been above average offensively for one single game in a month.

The last time they surpassed four runs was a 9-3 win April 22 in Anaheim. For context, that was two days before the NFL Draft.

Mel Kiper still thought Shedeur Sanders was going to be a first-round pick back then.

Yeah, it’s been a while. Twenty-two of MLB’s 30 teams average at least four runs per game. The Pirates haven’t touched that number for 30 days.

I mean, they can’t even lose 11-5 or something?

Or, you know, get behind 10-2 in the bottom of the ninth and have somebody accidentally loft a meaningless three-run homer off a reliever into the first row of the Clemente Wall?

“We are aware of it. We’re doing everything we can to make it end,” catcher Henry Davis said of the streak.

A way to do that would be to hit better with runners on base than their current .232 average (27th in baseball), and with runners in scoring position (.212, 28th). The beleaguered Bucco bats have only scratched out a MLB-worst 2.92 runs per contest in 50 games so far this season.

Davis’ go-ahead RBI in the fourth inning was his first hit with a man on base this season.

— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) May 21, 2025

He’d add another later in the game.

Fortunately for Don Kelly’s batting order, the starting staff has prevented the franchise from becoming a complete embarrassment.

During this current trip through the rotation, the Pirates starters — Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Bailey Falter and Andrew Heaney — have allowed just three earned runs in their past four games. The Pirates managed to win the last two against Cincinnati, 1-0 and 3-1, to earn a series win against their National League Central rivals.

Since that series against Anaheim, this is just Pittsburgh’s second series win.

“They’re throwing strikes and getting ahead,” Kelly said of his starters. “When you see the guy the night before dominating and doing well, they feed off of each other.”

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By his own admission, Heaney’s outing was the least impressive of the four. Skenes suffered a complete game 1-0 loss Sunday in Philadelphia. Mitch Keller yielded just one earned run in seven innings en route to a 7-1 loss thanks to fielding and the bullpen on Monday. Then Bailey Falter sparkled through seven shutout innings Tuesday as the Bucs won 1-0.

Heaney only lasted through five innings and 97 pitches. But Cincinnati plated just one run in that time, and the Pirates got good play in the field and solid relief work to nail down a 3-1 win for him.

“Guys are throwing the ball well, confident, prepared. They’ve got good stuff,” Heaney said. “Following Bailey? It was kinda hard to follow that up. He had a great game yesterday.”

Via TribLive’s Justin Guerriero, the Pirates’ rotation has posted an MLB-best ERA of 2.13 over the past two weeks.

The next guy who has to keep that momentum going is Mike Burrows. He’s been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. He’ll make his first major-league start Thursday at home against the Milwaukee Brewers after appearing in relief at Yankee Stadium late last year.

The 25-year-old is 2-1 with a 2.51 ERA in eight appearances (seven starts) for Indy this season.

“You see a good start, you want to put up a good start and help your team win,” Burrows said. “Seeing Heaney give up one run today through five and get a win, that’s awesome. That’s what you want to do the next day.”

It takes a lot for the Pirates to get attention nationally. But 17-33 is so bad, many outside of Pittsburgh have taken notice.

Fans fighting ushers, falling out of the stands during play and chanting “sell the team” has resulted in a negative spotlight as well, to say nothing of the Clemente Wall and Bucco Brick fiascos.

Had it not been for the recent brilliance of the starting staff, the Pirates might be in the midst of a nine-game losing streak, and even more people might be catching on to this hideous four-run hex the lineup can’t shake.

As good as the starters have been, they can only cover for so long.

Score five runs. Be above average at least once over the next month. That’s not too much to ask.

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