MLB... Detroit vs Pirates, on ESPN, in case you wanted to know.

[karlchilders.sixpack]

First inning.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

8 to 5 Tigers, B 6
Momentum has swung.

 

[She Mate Me]

Pirates funk the last 25 or so games has basically ended any playoff hopes.

 

[Perd Hapley]

Just an update - JM now at 2.97 PA / game. 0.13 away from being listed on all the official league stat rankings.

I’m unsure how the rounding works there….as in whether he technically qualifies at 3.051 PA per game, 3.06 PA per game, or if its a hard 3.1 that must be reached with no rounding.

As for Jake himself, he’s currently at a WAR of 1.9, which is phenomenal for a player that’s only appeared in a little over 80% of games. Current OPS of .742 is up 6.3% from his rookie year in TB. Current OPS+ of 104 is up 9 from the 95 he put up in 2025. Pirates have gotten a hell of a lot of value from him this season given that he’s a near league-minimum player.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

It's 502 in total. 3.1 PAs X 162 games and toss out the leftover .2.

 

[She Mate Me]

Pirates have gotten a hell of a lot of value from him this season given that he’s a near league-minimum player.

It’s pretty incredible to me that Tampa traded away three players who have all been contributing in Pittsburgh (two of them heavily) and they’re still 26 games over .500 and clear of everybody in the AL by 6+ games.

 

[She Mate Me]

Another great start from Ashcraft tonight. Went 8 giving up one run on a solo HR. Cruz returned to the lineup with a 2 run HR and Pittsburgh won 4-1.

Jake was 1-3 on a bunt single.

 

[Perd Hapley]

It’s pretty incredible to me that Tampa traded away three players who have all been contributing in Pittsburgh (two of them heavily) and they’re still 26 games over .500 and clear of everybody in the AL by 6+ games.

And yet they STILL have nothing but absolute trash in the outfield, and going from B. Lowe to Palacios at 2B is about as big of a downgrade as you can get.

There’s a very good chance that if TB doesn’t win the World Series, that trade may be the reason why. Neither of the 2 players they received from Houston in the 3-team deal have logged a single pitch or AB for them in 2026.

 

[She Mate Me]

And yet they STILL have nothing but absolute trash in the outfield

I mean, I know Chandler Simpson is one of the few guys in MLB with less power than Jake, but he’s second in the AL with a .310 BA and has 35 stolen bases.

 

[Perd Hapley]

I mean, I know Chandler Simpson is one of the few guys in MLB with less power than Jake, but he’s second in the AL with a .310 BA and has 35 stolen bases.

He’s the best one they have…..and is the only serviceable one, really. And I’d correct myself and say he isn’t necessarily trash, but he’s below par for the position. And everyone else they have in the OF is trash. Both JM and BL would certainly be playing everyday, and they might even have the best record in MLB if they still had them.

And saying “less power than Jake” is an understatement. Even with the .310 BA, he only has an OPS of .704….which is where Jake was LAST year in TB. He has zero HR’s in 226 MLB games, and really hasn’t come that close to hitting one, either. Has just 19 XBH in 439 AB’s. OPS+ of 98 indicates he’s below average for the position.

He’s even being figured out on the basepaths….yeah he leads in steals, but has also been thrown out stealing more than anyone. Been thrown out 26% of the time this year, vs. 21% last year.

 

[She Mate Me]

He’s the best one they have…..and is the only serviceable one, really. And I’d correct myself and say he isn’t necessarily trash, but he’s below par for the position. And everyone else they have in the OF is trash. Both JM and BL would certainly be playing everyday, and they might even have the best record in MLB if they still had them.

And saying “less power than Jake” is an understatement. Even with the .310 BA, he only has an OPS of .704….which is where Jake was LAST year in TB. He has zero HR’s in 226 MLB games, and really hasn’t come that close to hitting one, either. Has just 19 XBH in 439 AB’s. OPS+ of 98 indicates he’s below average for the position.

He’s even being figured out on the basepaths….yeah he leads in steals, but has also been thrown out stealing more than anyone. Been thrown out 26% of the time this year, vs. 21% last year.

I was just pointing out he’s not exactly trash.

 

[Perd Hapley]

I was just pointing out he’s not exactly trash.

Correct statement. I think I’m bitter that JM could have maybe got a WS ring this year but instead looks like he’ll languish on a mediocre squad until at least 2027.

 

[She Mate Me]

Correct statement. I think I’m bitter that JM could have maybe got a WS ring this year but instead looks like he’ll languish on a mediocre squad until at least 2027.

I don’t think they’re gonna win a WS. It seems like one of the bigger aberrations I’ve seen lately.

As an example, they came into the season not having a closer nailed down and somehow a 31 year old with 4 MLB saves to his resume coming into 2026 has produced 35 saves and a sub 1.50 ERA.

They may continue the dominance, but it has been really surprising and not very predictable.

 

[She Mate Me]

Another great start from Ashcraft tonight. Went 8 giving up one run on a solo HR. Cruz returned to the lineup with a 2 run HR and Pittsburgh won 4-1.

Jake was 1-3 on a bunt single.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

What about Skenes, he, seems to be slowly going down the toilet bowl?

 

[She Mate Me]

What about Skenes, he, seems to be slowly going down the toilet bowl?

They gave him some extra rest and he responded today by giving up 3 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks in 4 innings.

Not on a good trajectory.