The Pittsburgh Pirates are well on their way to securing at least one game in the postseason, leading the NL Wild Card race by four games over the second place Chicago Cubs, and +9.5 over the San Francisco Giants who are currently on the outside looking in. The Royals are a team that may begin to rest its players in the next couple of weeks with their massive divisional lead, but not Pittsburgh. They found out first-hand last season how dangerous a play-in game can be, losing to the eventual World Series champs. The Bucs also had to face the man that hoisted the World Series MVP trophy when all was said and done in Madison Bumgarner, so for the Pirates, there are bigger aspirations this season–and it all starts with winning the division.
With 36 games to go, Pittsburgh trails St. Louis in the NL Central by 4.5 games. Luckily, there are six games remaining between these two teams, three in St. Louis September 4-6, and three in the Steel City September 28-30, the second-to-last series of the year. The Cards hold a one game edge in the season series, winning 7 of the team’s 13 match-ups.
With September 1st just days away, and with that roster expansion, there are always players that could help out the big league team.
Obviously, Pirates’ fans want to see Josh Bell as soon as possible, but Bell isn’t on the team’s 40-man roster, and he’s accumulated just 24 games in Triple-A, making it hard to believe that he will be added for the stretch run. That said, Bell has produced at the plate in his time with Indianapolis, slashing .337/.426/.523 (average, OBP, slugging) with two homers, two triples and 13 RBI.
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One player that could contribute in some way is Bobby LaFromboise, a 29-year-old lefty that has had two brief stints with the Pirates over the last two years. Over 4 2/3 big league innings in those two years, the southpaw has allowed four hits and one run, a solo homer, while striking out five. LaFromboise wouldn’t be the sexiest call-up, but there is always a spot on the roster for a left-handed pitcher that can get outs. He holds a 3.00 ERA in Triple-A this season.
Tyler Glasnow, like Bell, would need to be added to the 40-man roster in order to be brought up, but there is a case that can be built around doing so. The round 5 selection in the 2011 draft, Glasnow is a six-foot-eight right-hander that has 18 starts between Double-A Altoona (12 games) and Triple-A this season. According to MLB Pipeline, Glasnow consistently throws in the upper 90s and is able to maintain that velocity throughout his starts. The Pirates #1 prospect has excelled in 33 1/3 innings in Indianapolis, allowing just three earned (0.87 ERA) while striking out 39 for a K/9 rate of 11.2. His control could use some work, as his walk rate stands at 4.9 in Triple-A, but he has an overpowering fastball, an off-and-on plus curve and a changeup that has improved greatly (Pipeline). This could be a great opportunity to get Glasnow some exposure at the Major League level, while also helping to propel the team into first place.
Getting him on the roster could be tricky, but not as tricky as one might expect. There are a few players currently on the disabled list that could be transferred to the 60-day DL, effectively ending their seasons, but clearing a spot for Glasnow, or others. Travis Ishikawa recently went on the DL with a back strain, and back problems are no joke. Even if Ishikawa were healthy enough to return before season’s end, there’s no telling when a flare-up could occur, knocking him back out of action. There are other options where this would apply, but then the Rule 5 draft begins to become a factor, leaving Ishikawa as the least “messy” option.
There is no telling whether or not the Bucs are willing to rearrange their 40-man roster at this point to give some of their talented prospects a look in the final month, but with a wild card date looming with Jon Lester and the Cubs, a switch may be worth attempting.