9-27-24 – By Ethan Smith – @mvp_EtHaN
I’m a bartender and one of the more funny things I hear from my good buddy Brian Chose, “There’s always time for one more.”
That’s the case for the Pirates, who will be playing their final series of the 2024 campaign this weekend, as they head to the Bronx to take on the New York Yankees.
In actuality, this series is virtually pointless for both squads, as the Pirates have been out of playoff contention since September kicked off and the Yankees clinched the American League East with a victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, but these are still games that matter in the record column nonetheless.
For Pittsburgh, winning the series would allow them to match their 2023 record of 76-86, while a sweep would make them one game better than they were a year ago. New York is still in a fight for the number one spot in the AL, with Cleveland right behind them, but the Yankees have already secured a first round bye in the postseason.
This series will still feature some of baseball’s best players in Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Oneil Cruz, Paul Skenes among others, and Pirates baseball is Pirates baseball, so let’s take a look at the final three games we’ll see in 2024.
9/27
Yankees – Carlos Rodon (L) – 16-9, 169.2 IP, 3.98 ERA, 190 Ks/53 walks, 1.21 WHIP
Pirates – Jared Jones (R) – 6-8, 117.1 IP, 4.14 ERA, 125 Ks/37 walks, 1.18 WHIP
9/28
Yankees – Luis Gil (R) – 15-6, 146.0 IP, 3.27 ERA, 166 Ks/76 walks, 1.19 WHIP
Pirates – Paul Skenes (R) – 11-3, 131.0 IP, 1.99 ERA, 167 Ks/32 walks, 0.96 WHIP
9/29
Yankees – Clarke Schmidt (R) – 5-5, 81.1 IP, 2.55 ERA, 88 Ks/26 walks, 1.16 WHIP
Pirates – Bailey Falter (L) – 8-9, 139.1 IP, 4.26 ERA, 97 Ks/42 walks, 1.26 WHIP
Yankees: Gleyber Torres
The Yankees offense has been led by Juan Soto and Aaron Judge all season, but September has been a great month for Gleyber Torres, who leads the Bronx Bombers with 101 at-bats this month and is slashing .327/.378/.455 with three home runs and 13 RBIs.
Torres also has an .849 OPS in the past seven days, and as a 1.5 WAR player on the season, its tough to find better timing for his game to heat up as the postseason approaches.
Pirates: Nick Gonzales
Second baseman highlight the “Who’s Hot?” list for the final series preview, and rightfully so, as Nick Gonzales has had quite the month of September, slashing .288/.352/.350 with seven RBIs.
Gonzales has slowed down a bit over the past seven days, posting a .644 OPS, but with his month being impressive, one hopes he ends the season strong in New York.
Yankees: Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. was the marquee trade deadline acquisition for the Yankees, giving them another offensive weapon, but he hasn’t been that weapon in September, slashing .207/.283/.268 in 82 at-bats this month.
Chisholm Jr. only has five RBIs as well, so the Yankees will be hoping he can ramp up the Jazz band as the postseason approaches.
Pirates: Bryan Reynolds
Bryan Reynolds has been the most consistent offensive player for the Pirates this year, but September hasn’t been kind to him, as he’s slashing .227/.296/.318 in 88 at-bats this month.
Although Reynolds leads the team in RBIs this month with 11, his numbers aren’t where they’ve been throughout the season, let’s hope he has a strong finale.
Key Injuries
Yankees: DJ LeMahieu(10-day IL), Jake Cousins(15-Day IL), Nestor Cortes(15-Day IL), Mark Leiter Jr.(Paternity), JT Brubaker(60-Day IL)
Pirates: Henry Davis(10-Day IL), Ke’Bryan Hayes(10-Day IL), Kyle Nicolas(15-Day IL), Ben Heller(60-Day IL), Daulton Jefferies(60-Day IL)
Steel City Pirates 