Yes, it\u2019s early, but there is much one can take away from the Pittsburgh Pirates\u2019 5-0 record to start 2024. The Pirates last started a season with a 5-0 record in 1983. That team stayed in the National League East Division race well into September, finishing second behind the eventual pennant-winning Philadelphia Phillies. This current 5-0 start is even more impressive because all the games have been played on the road. The national media has the Bucs pegged to win around 76 games. In Pittsburgh, those closer to the scene are predicting about 85 wins. To make that a reality, a few trends will have to continue.<\/p>\n
With Aroldis Chapman<\/a>, Colin Holderman<\/a>, Carmen Mlodzinski<\/a>, and Ryan Borucki<\/a> backing up All-Star closer David Bednar<\/a>, it was thought that the Pirates had one of the top three bullpens in baseball. Arguably, they\u2019ve been the best in baseball so far. With Holderman and Mlodzinksi on the injured list, Bednar\u2019s availability and effectiveness are limited by lat tightness.<\/p>\n Over 23-1\/3 innings, the bullpen is 4-0 with four saves, a 1.93 ERA, and a .772 WHIP. They\u2019ve struck out 10.4 batters and walked 2.3 per nine innings. They\u2019ve allowed just one of 11 inherited runners to score. One reason for adding Chapman as a free agent<\/a> was so the Pirates could, as the saying goes, shorten the game. Manager Derek Shelton<\/a> has been tasked with utilizing his deep bullpen in this fashion. He\u2019s been on it like a cheap toup\u00e9e. So far, only three of the five starters have gotten as far as the sixth inning. The Pirates\u2019 starters have pitched just 24-2\/3 innings thus far. More than the starters, the bullpen have been responsible for the Pirates\u2019 5-0 record.<\/p>\n Moreover, almost every move Shelton has made to the bullpen has turned gold. Note his bullpen usage in Miami against the Marlins. Jose Hernandez<\/a>, on the roster only because Roansy Contreras<\/a> was on the paternity list, earned the save on Opening Day. He has since been returned to the minors. On Friday, Ryder Ryan<\/a>, making his second major league appearance, pitched out of a fifth inning, first-and-third jam with two strikeouts. Josh Fleming<\/a> earned a three-inning save that same day. After Bednar blew the save on Sunday, Hunter Stratton earned the save at\u00a0the bottom of the tenth. Fleming and Stratton were non-roster invitees to spring training. Hernandez was a Rule 5 selection<\/a> in 2023.Shelton is a Believer<\/h3>\n
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