BREAKING: Pittsburgh Pirates Off To One Of Best Starts In Franchise History
The Pittsburgh Pirates were not initially garnering much attention at the onset of the 2024 MLB regular season. However, as the first full week of games draws to a close, they have become the focal point of discussions within the baseball community.
Starting their season with a four-game sweep against the Miami Marlins, the Pirates continued their momentum into their second series against the Washington Nationals. With an impressive 8-4 victory over Washington, Pittsburgh extended their winning streak to a flawless 5-0 record.
This marks the Pirates’ best start in over four decades, not since 1983 when Johnny Ray led the team in position player WAR and Rick Rhoden led the pitching staff, have they begun a season with such a remarkable 5-0 record.
For the first time since 1983, the @Pirates start the season 5-0! pic.twitter.com/UxZKxKnNTP
— MLB (@MLB) April 1, 2024
The squad from that particular season ultimately secured second place in the NL East with an 84-78 record, falling short of making it to the postseason. However, there is a prevailing sense of optimism surrounding the current squad, despite the long road ahead in the season.
Manager Derek Shelton couldn’t hide his excitement witnessing his team kick off the season with such a strong performance. Although the Pirates are just beginning their journey this season, Shelton believes there’s importance in starting off on the right foot.
“Starting off well holds significance,” Shelton remarked. “After coming out of spring training and discussing our intentions and strategies, we’ve managed to execute them effectively in the initial five games.”
Early on, the Pirates have seen contributions from all members of the roster. They etched their names in MLB history as Jose Hernandez secured his first career save on Opening Day, followed by Ryder Ryan and Jared Jones clinching their maiden career victories in the subsequent games.
The @Pirates are 5-0 for the first time since 1983!@markdero7 takes us back to the '80s in this #MLBCentral segment 🪩 pic.twitter.com/Fevg5JfFCs
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 2, 2024
The most surprising aspect of the team’s performance thus far has been the pitching staff’s exceptional form. Going into the 2024 season, there were numerous uncertainties, particularly regarding the starting rotation. However, after five games, they have surpassed expectations.
Contrastingly, there were no concerns regarding the lineup, given the depth and talent of the Pirates. They have demonstrated their prowess at the plate, currently ranking third in the MLB for runs scored with 39, trailing only the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, who had a head start due to their participation in the Seoul Series in Korea and have played seven games.
The Pirates’ streak of scoring six or more runs in every game to start a season is the longest in at least 124 years. This remarkable achievement hints at something special brewing in the Steel City, with additional promising young talent in the pipeline poised to contribute sooner rather than later.