Series Thread: Rangers on the Road to Face Pirates May 22-24

[saddles]

Series Preview from InsideThe BucsBasement.com and StatsPros.com

When & Who


Texas Rangers (29-17) at Pittsburgh Pirates (24-22)


Game 1 – (5/22, 5:35 PM)


Probable Pitchers:


For the Pirates – Luis Ortiz (0-2, 5.63 ERA)


For the Rangers – Dane Dunning (4-0, 1.69)


Game 2 – (5/23, 5:35 PM)


Probable Pitchers:


For the Pirates – Rich Hill (4-3, 3.80 ERA)


For the Rangers – Nathan Eovaldi (5-2, 2.83)


Game 3 – (5/24, 11:35 AM)


For the Pirates – Johan Oviedo (3-3, 4.69 ERA)


For the Rangers – Martin Perez (5-1, 4.01)

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Texas Rangers Stats​

The Pirates are having an alright campaign offensively, accumulating an on-base percentage at 0.322 (14th in MLB) They have recorded a 0.399 slugging % (16th in MLB) and also average 13.1 total bases per contest. Pittsburgh has amassed 565 total bases while notching a run 184 times, as well as hitting in 175 runs. The Pirates have walked up to home base 1,416 times, and also have amassed 159 BBs so far this year. Their runs batted in per outing are currently at 4.07 (369 SOs) and their OPS is sitting at 0.721. They are averaging 8.0 hits per outing and also sit 9th in the league in 2Bs with 82. Pittsburgh has tallied 342 hits and they are the owners of a BA of .242 for the year.

Texas is compiling a credible year on offense, holding an OPS of 0.78 (5th in baseball) They have accumulated a 0.337 on-base percentage (4th in MLB) and also have an average of 9.21 base hits per game. The Rangers have earned 83 2Bs while driving in 257 runs, plus getting walked 145 times. Texas has been sent to the dugout after being struck out 397 times and they are sitting with 660 TBs so far this year. Their total bases per outing is currently at 9.2 (1,488 ABs) and their slugging % is sitting at 0.444. They average 5.98 runs batted in per game and are 6th in baseball for base hits with 396. Texas has tallied 266 runs scored and has a batting average of .266 on the campaign.

Team Hitting Comparison Comparison​

Pittsburgh Pirates	Team Offense	Texas Rangers
43	Games Played	43
1,617	Plate Appearances	1,678
1,416	At-Bats	1,488
184	Runs Scored	266
342	Hits	396
82	Doubles	83
9	Triples	5
41	Home Runs	57
175	Runs Batted In	257
50	Stolen Bases	29
17	Caught Stealing	9
159	Walks	145
369	Strikeouts	397
.242	Batting Average	.266
.322	On-Base Percentage	.337
.399	Slugging Percentage	.444
0.721	OPS	0.780
97	OPS+	114
565	Total Bases	660
26	Grounded Into Double Play	21
297	Left on Base	282

Pittsburgh has walked onto the diamond for 378.2 IPs and have surrendered 352 base hits for the year. Pittsburgh averages 4.1 runs surrendered per 9 innings (25th in baseball) and hold an average of 3.6 walks per contest. The Pirates have tallied 369 strikeouts and also are the owners of a WHIP of 1.327 over the course of the season. The Pirates are having a positive campaign on the hill, holding an earned run average at 3.66 (6th in MLB) The Pirates average 8.8 strikeouts per contest and also sit at 13th in the league in bases on balls with 150. The Pirates have pitched against 1,621 hitters while stepping onto the mound in 43 contests, in addition to recording a 2.46 SO/BB ratio. Their FIP is at 3.91 (154 earned runs) while their H/G given up is sitting at 8.2.

The Rangers are compiling a marvelous season on the mound, accounting for a WHIP at 1.183 (3rd in the league) They are sitting with an average of 2.9 free passes per contest surrendered (25th in the league) and have accounted for a 3.0 strikeout to walk ratio. They have struck out an opponent 363 different times, while conceding 329 base hits, along with recording a 4.10 FIP. Texas has pitched against 1,575 players and also have conceded 122 bases on balls on the campaign. Their earned run average is at 3.87 (43 games played) and their Ks per contest average is sitting at 4.2. They are averaging 7.7 base hits per contest surrendered and rank 23rd in baseball in ERs allowed with 164. The Rangers have racked up 381.1 IPs and also have earned a SO/9 average of 8.6 on the year.

Team Pitching Comparison​

Pittsburgh Pirates	Team Pitching	Texas Rangers
4.0	Runs Allowed Per Game	4.2
23	Wins	26
20	Losses	17
.535	Win-Loss Percentage	.605
3.66	Earned Run Average (ERA)	3.9
1	Complete Games	1
6	Team Shutouts	4
1	Complete Game Shutouts	1
13	Saves	9
378	Innings Pitched	381
352	Hits Allowed	329
171	Runs Allowed	179
154	Earned Runs Allowed	164
38	Home Runs Allowed	47
150	Walks Allowed	122
7	Intentional Walks Allowed	5
369	Strikeouts	363
8	Balks	18
14	Wild Pitches	13
1,621	Batters Faced	1,575
3	Balks	2
120	ERA+	115
3.91	FIP	4.10
1.326	WHIP	1.183
8.4	Hits Allowed Per 9 Innings	7.8
0.9	Homeruns Allowed Per 9 Innings	1.1
3.6	Walks Per 9 Innings	2.9
8.8	Strikeouts Per 9 Innings	8.6
2.5	Strikeout to Walk Ratio	3.0
316	Left on Base	255

Team Bullpen Comparison​

Pittsburgh Pirates	Team Relief Pitching	Texas Rangers
123	Games in Relief	117
42	Games Finished	42
5	Wins in Relief	8
4	Losses in Relief	9
18	Save Opportunities	17
13	Saves	9
5	Blown Saves	8
72.0%	Save Percentage	53.0%
44	Save Situations	43
25	Holds	25
40	Inherited Runners	68
9	Inherited Runners Scored	23
23.0%	Inherited Score Percentage	34.0%
.950	Average Leverage Index	.955
34	High Leverage Situations	31
25	Medium Leverage Situations	35
64	Low Leverage Situations	51
62	Times Entered With Lead	79
14	Times Entered in Tie	11
47	Times Entered When Behind	27
25	Inherited Runners	41
98	Times Entered With Bases Empty	76
36	Multiple Inning Appearances	50

Team Fielding Comparison​

Pittsburgh Pirates	Team Fielding	Texas Rangers
.686	Defensive Efficiency	.712
1,513	Defensive Chances	1,543
1,136	Putouts	1,144
351	Assists	379
26	Errors	20
37	Double Plays	36
.983	Fielding Percentage	.987

Pertaining to base runners inherited, the Pirates have accumulated 40 for the season, and the Rangers have 68. This season, Pittsburgh has the better bullpen concerning save rate sitting at 72%. With a total of 25, the Pittsburgh Pirates hold the same amount of holds as the Texas Rangers on the year. Pittsburgh has accounted for more saves than Texas this season having racked up 13. When discussing pitching, Pittsburgh has earned a WHIP of 1.326 and Texas sits at 1.183. The Pirates have a more superior pitching staff pertaining to conceding homeruns with 38. In the matter of total strikeouts, the Pirates have notched a total of 369 for the year while the Rangers are sitting with 363. So far this year, Pittsburgh is the more superior group of pitchers, having a team ERA of 3.66. Having earned 352, the Pirates have conceded more base hits than the Rangers over the course of the season. The Pittsburgh Pirates have allowed less runs per game than the Texas Rangers this year, with an average of 3.98.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have tallied less runs than the Texas Rangers on the campaign with 184. With 342, the Pirates have accounted for less hits as the Rangers on the campaign. This year, the Pirates aren’t quite as potent of an offense, sporting an average of 4.3 runs/game. When talking about striking out at the plate, Texas has compiled 397 on the campaign, and Pittsburgh has 369. The Pirates have earned a collective batting average of .242 and the Rangers have accrued an average of .266. When comparing teams, Pittsburgh has compiled an OBP of .322 while Texas is at .337.

 

[jta4437]

Would like to see: LF-Smith, CF-Tavares, RF-Garcia, DH-Duran, while Janko is out, no desire to see much more of Grossman or Miller going forward

 

[saddles]

Would like to see: LF-Smith, CF-Tavares, RF-Garcia, DH-Duran, while Janko is out, no desire to see much more of Grossman or Miller going forward

Yeah, I understood when Smith was removed from the lineup a few weeks back, but what he has done in May is hard to ignore.

 

[saddles]

I sure hope this continues and he busts the door down and gets promoted to the big leagues.

 

[Kelleyman]

Would like to see: LF-Smith, CF-Tavares, RF-Garcia, DH-Duran, while Janko is out, no desire to see much more of Grossman or Miller going forward

Here are my thoughts:
I would like Smith to play more but if he is subbing in players for test and playing 4-5 days out of 7 or 6 that is good. Would rather Robbie DH instead of LF but he needs to play about the same as Smith unless he digresses

Duran needs some reps in LF too

 

[scotsman1948]

Would like to see: LF-Smith, CF-Tavares, RF-Garcia, DH-Duran, while Janko is out, no desire to see Groomuch more of Grossman or Miller going forward

No desire to see any of Miller even in dugout. Grossman now Bochy will still roll him out there even when Jankowski returns. Someone will have to be sent down or released to clear a spot for Jankowski and 90-95% sure it won’t be Miller or Grossman so that leaves Smith or Thompson and approximately a week to 10 days later Garver will come off the IL

 

[scotsman1948]

Here are my thoughts:
I would like Smith to play more but if he is subbing in players for test and playing 4-5 days out of 7 or 6 that is good. Would rather Robbie DH instead of LF but he needs to play about the same as Smith unless he digresses

Duran needs some reps in LF too

Too many need to play and not enough positions. Those that will play 90-95% of the time: Semien, Seager, Lowe, Garcia, Jung, Heim, Taveras. That leaves 2 positions for Grossman, Duran, Smith, Jankowski, Leon and Miller/Garver. Did I forget anyone?

 

[Kelleyman]

Too many need to play and not enough positions. Those that will play 90-95% of the time: Semien, Seager, Lowe, Garcia, Jung, Heim, Taveras. That leaves 2 positions for Grossman, Duran, Smith, Jankowski and Miller/Garver. Did I forget anyone?

Once Garver and Janks gets into the mix. Yes it complicates. Bubba about to go down once Janks is back methinks. Harvey needs a rehab assignment and so does Janks.
That delays things

 

[scotsman1948]

Once Garver and Janks gets into the mix. Yes it complicates. Bubba about to go down once Janks is back methinks. Harvey needs a rehab assignment and so does Janks.
That delays things

A lot of people out here are going to be pissed when these no choice decisions are made
Harvey?

 

[saddles]

Here are my thoughts:
I would like Smith to play more but if he is subbing in players for test and playing 4-5 days out of 7 or 6 that is good. Would rather Robbie DH instead of LF but he needs to play about the same as Smith unless he digresses

Duran needs some reps in LF too

I hope the playing time is determined by merit. Smith seemed to have corrected some things before his last injury. Since then his playing time has been sparce, but he has still continued to do well. With him playing this well i sure hope he gets to play 5 days a week.

 

[Kelleyman]

A lot of people out here are going to be pissed when these no choice decisions are made
Harvey?

Sorry meant Garver. And if he can play some 1B and catch. Maybe Miller or Leon are expendable

 

[scotsman#1948]

I hope the playing time is determined by merit. Smith seemed to have corrected some things before his last injury. Since then his playing time has been sparce, but he has still continued to do well. With him playing this well i sure hope he gets to play 5 days a week.

who isn't playing well right now? no matter who they stick in, with possibly exception of Leon who plays sparingly, everyone is producing. and Duran is the best of those which is why he's getting the DH time and occasionally playing SS with Seager at DH. that doesn't leave a lot available playing for the others like Smith, Thompson, Miller and Jankowski & Garver when they're healthy and recalled.

 

[saddles]

I believe the Rangers will make a move to improve themselves in regards to who is the backup 1B. They may do the same at backup catcher as well.

I believe we will see 2 or 3 trades to bolster the bullpen and one or two to bolster the bench.

 

[saddles]

who isn't playing well right now? no matter who they stick in, with possibly exception of Leon who plays sparingly, everyone is producing. and Duran is the best of those which is why he's getting the DH time and occasionally playing SS with Seager at DH. that doesn't leave a lot available playing for the others like Smith, Thompson, Miller and Jankowski & Garver when they're healthy and recalled.

Here are the respective May slash lines for Robbie Grossman and Josh Smith.

.239/.253/.366/.620

391/.482/.783/1.264

 

[scotsman#1948]

normal batting order: homers rbi's avg

Semien 7 38 .305
Seager 3 12 .382
Lowe 5 29 .279
Garcia 14 49 .256
Jung 9 28 .257
Heim 6 32 .296
Grossman 5 26 .247
Duran 7 23 .308
Taveras 1 17 .296

Smith 3 4 .222

who sits 4 or 5 times a week to give Smith playing time?

and what about Jankowski & Garver?

 

[scotsman#1948]

Here are the respective May slash lines for Robbie Grossman and Josh Smith.

.239/.253/.366/.620

391/.482/.783/1.264

okay i see what you're getting at but does Bochy?

 

[saddles]

normal batting order: homers rbi's avg

Semien 7 38 .305
Seager 3 12 .382
Lowe 5 29 .279
Garcia 14 49 .256
Jung 9 28 .257
Heim 6 32 .296
Grossman 5 26 .247
Duran 7 23 .308
Taveras 1 17 .296

Smith 3 4 .222

who sits 4 or 5 times a week to give Smith playing time?

and what about Jankowski & Garver?

It depends on who you think will play the best and how you determine that.

 

[saddles]

okay i see what you're getting at but does Bochy?

He seemed to before Smith's foot got banged up. I guess we will see if he starts thinking that way again.

 

[scotsman#1948]

It depends on who you think will play the best and how you determine that.

it depends on who Bochy thinks will play the best and how Bochy determines it. personally i would love to see Smith get more playing time i just don't think Bochy will wander too far away from what's got the team this far

 

[saddles]