2015 MLB Team Previews – Pirates
After some very lean times the Pittsburgh Pirates have been to the playoffs in back to back seasons. They are in a very competitive division – the NL Central – but there is no reason they should not be in the mix again in 2015.
MLB Lines & Matchup Insight
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This team never dominates but has found ways to be competitive and win. There is no sign of a backslide.
2015 MLB Team Previews – Pittsburgh Pirates
- National League Central: +260
- National League: +1200
- World Series: +2500
Key Additions:
- RH A.J. Burnett
- IF Jung-Ho Kang
- C Francisco Cervelli
Kang is getting all of the attention as nobody is too sure how well he will be able to adjust to the Majors. If he can adapt quickly that will be great but it is likely more important that they get a full season of quality innings out of A.J. Burnett who returns to the club.
Cervelli is a veteran who is more of the backup type and definitely a downgrade from Russell Martin.
Key Losses:
- C Russell Martin
- RH Edinson Volquez
Losing Martin was huge.
He is easily one of the top combination offensive and defensive catchers in the league but he is also just a winner plain and simple. He will be missed every game of the year and perhaps most of all when the team struggles.
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Swapping Volquez for Burnett is probably an upgrade overall. Volquez had a nice season last year but has never been consistent.
Projected Lineup
- OF Starling Marte
- 2B Neil Walker
- OF Andrew McCutcheon
- 1B Pedro Alvarez
- 3B Josh Harrison
- OF Gregory Polanco
- SS Jordy Mercer
- C Francisco Cervelli
Other than McCutcheon in the three spot you can probably organize this group in a million different ways. He is an absolute stud and should continue to be for years to come. Around him there is definitely speed but not a ton of power.
Hopefully Alvarez can be more consistent and adjust to first base because he is the only slugger they have. Polanco is also a wild card. He is one of those uber prospects but has yet to establish himself in the Majors.
His ceiling is probably like McCutcheon’s – it would be pretty awesome to have two of those.
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If Kang is ready that probably means Mercer heads to the bench. He showed some serious power in Korea but nobody knows yet whether that will translate.
Projected Rotation
- LH Francisco Liriano
- RH A.J. Burnett
- RH Gerrit Cole
- LH Jeff Locke
- RH Vance Worley
I like their rotation, especially the top three. Liriano and Burnett are quality vets who are able to get by both with their stuff and with guile when they need to.
Cole has the million dollar arm and if he advances to the top of the rotation in terms of production it will definitely mean the Pirates are in the thick of the race again.
At the back end Locke and Worley are serviceable but depth beyond those two is questionable. They will need this group to stay healthy and take their regular turns.
Projected Closer
- RH Mark Melancon
- LH Tony Watson
- RH John Holdzkom
Melancon is not a big name but he is very effective.
He seems like the right fit for this team because he is never going to command big bucks. Watson was superb last season and actually picked up 10 wins. He is a lefty specialist but still averaged nearly an inning per appearance.
Holdzkom dominated over a small sample size and the Pirates are excited to see more.
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You never know with those Indy Baseball guys.
2015 Pittsburgh Pirates Season Predictions:
The Pirates are probably about as good as they were a year ago which means they should compete for a playoff spot in NL Central again.
If Polanco emerges into a star this season there is some upward mobility but most likely he only becomes a solid regular contributor.
That being said I like the Pirates a lot to take the division at a nifty +260. St. Louis is not as good they are in people’s minds and Chicago has way too many what ifs right now.
The Pirates have the third best odds to take the division but I would rate their chances as even, or better, against those two teams.
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