Pirates 2020 Season Preview
Ready to check out our 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates predictions? The Pirates have won just 69 games each of the last two seasons but their win total is somewhere in the low 70s this season. The markets still have them finishing last in the well balanced NL Central.
MLB Pirates Predictions & Handicapping Insight
The Pirates return most every young player from their team last season, which, as previously mentioned, didn’t win a lot of games but hung around in the first half before a second half tank job.
That said, pitching will be this team’s weakness and an inexperienced and unproven staff will be a lot to overcome to be competitive in the Central.
2020 MLB Team Previews – Pittsburgh Pirates
- Pittsburgh Pirates 2020 National League Central Odds: +10000
- Pittsburgh Pirates 2020 National League Odds: +8000
- Pittsburgh Pirates 2020 World Series Odds: +50000
Key Additions:
- Jarrod Dyson
The Pirates didn’t add much this offseason, at least in the form of players who will have an impact in the big leagues this season.
Dyson will fill the outfield spot Starling Marte, who was traded to Arizona, leaves behind after eight seasons with Pittsburgh.
Key Losses:
- Felipe Vazquez
- Starling Marte
- Francisco Liriano
Technically, Vazquez, who was named to the NL’s All-Star Team in both 2018 and 2019, is just on administrative leave but he will not pitch in 2020 and has likely played his final game in the big leagues.
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His trial began on Tuesday, where he faces 21 charges related to child pornography and sexual misconduct. He could very well be deported back to Venezuela, if found guilty.
Francisco Liriano got Vazquez many of his save opportunities in 2019. He pitched well in 70 innings last season but left for Philadelphia in the offseason.
2020 Pittsburgh Pirates Predictions: Projected Lineup:
- Adam Frazier 2B
- Brian Reynolds OF
- Gregory Polanco OF
- Josh Bell 1B
- Collin Moran 3B
- Kevin Newman SS
- Jacob Stallings C
- Jarrod Dyson OF
This is not an easy lineup to face. Adam Frazier, Brian Reynolds and Kevin Newman all had between 152 and 154 hits in 2019 and are good, solid every day players.
Josh Bell slumped toward the end of the season but he was on a feverish RBI pace before finishing with 116 in 143 games.
Collin Moran finished at about league-average last season but he’s still filling out his frame and will continue to show increased power, so long as he stays healthy and with a position in the field. His defense has been shoddy at third base and Bell occupies first.
2020 Pittsburgh Pirates Predictions: Projected Rotation:
- Chris Archer
- Joe Musgrove
- Steve Brault
- Trevor Williams
- Mitch Keller
All five of these guys made at least 11 starts in 2019 and four of them made at least 19. None finished better than league-average, in terms of ERA, though.
That’s not to say none of them have the potential to. Archer’s potential has been well-documented and he flashed some more moments in 2019 in his first full season as a Pirate than he did after the midseason trade of 2018.
Joe Musgrove probably pitched the best of the five. He completed 170 innings and maintained strong WHIP, strikeout and walk numbers, which he has done his whole career. It has never translated into a great ERA.
Trevor Williams was the guy I liked the most prior to, going into and during much of last season but he slipped in the season’s final two months. He’s got a good sinking fastball but it just might not be enough for him to live off of.
Brault is a crafty lefty who gets a lot of weak contact and comes into 2020 under the radar.
I’ll take at least two of these guys to finish with an ERA at least at, or better than, league-average this season.
2020 Pittsburgh Pirates Predictions: Projected Closer:
- Keone Kela
With Vazquez’s legal troubles, the closer spot opens up for Kela, who saved 24 games in a partial season with Texas in 2018 before coming over in the middle of the season.
He’s got some nasty stuff and posted a 203 ERA+ last season. The problem is he can’t seem to stay healthy and durable for a full season, which is a problem for a team that’s already having to test uncharted waters by plugging him in at closer. The rest of the bullpen is not strong.
2020 Pittsburgh Pirates Predictions: 76 wins and 4th in the NL Central (Bet Now at any of our reviewed MLB Sportsbooks!)
I would definitely need odds to bet the Pirates won’t finish last in the Central this season but I am intrigued by the offense in a shortened season where pitching depth may not mean quite so much.
So sign me up for 100/1 in the Central. That’s the theme of my purchases in the futures market this go-around: long shots with some frisk. Pittsburgh has some guys who were playing quite well before hitting a wall in July/August last season. That isn’t likely to happen in the shortened campaign.
What do you think of our 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates predictions? Comments are welcome below.
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