Before the season, most fans and analysts believed the St. Louis Cardinals were the top candidates to win the NL Central division and the Pittsburgh Pirates were the most likely team to finish last.
Well, it’s fair to say, after more than a month of action, that the Pirates flipped the script in one of the most unpredictable divisions in baseball.
Call it now: who wins the NL Central? 🔮 pic.twitter.com/Ac2XHmy3bC
—MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) May 4, 2023
As of Thursday afternoon, the Pirates are first in the NL Central standings with a 20-11 record.
It’s a shocking turn of events, but now comes the really hard part for the Pirates: showing that their April performance wasn’t a fluke.
They have lost three straight games and have looked vulnerable against one of MLB’s best teams, the Tampa Bay Rays.
While Pittsburgh does have some really interesting players, most of them are performing at a level previously not seen.
MLB players, both pitchers and hitters, are masters in the art of making adjustments.
If there is a hole in Jack Suwinski, Connor Joe, or Rodolfo Castro’s swing, pitchers will identify and attack it.
If Johan Oviedo or Mitch Keller have a platoon problem or have some clear trends, batters will pick up on that.
Here starts the real challenge for a franchise like the Pirates: showing they are legit.
The season is long, so there is a chance they fade somewhat.
However, they have succeeded in one notable offseason priority: being competitive.
That alone is a huge gain for the league and fans, considering the previous state of the franchise.
NEXT:
Pirates GM Could Be On A Familiar Path
