Pirates' Don Kelly Gets Blunt After Latest Loss

It isn't just one area where Pittsburgh has been poor. Rather, every aspect of the game has been rough during this brutal stretch.

Since July 20, the Pirates have scored just 3.23 runs per game. Their 71 total runs during that span are the third-fewest in MLB, only ahead of the Seattle Mariners (66) and the Los Angeles Angels (59).

Pittsburgh owns a collective .218 batting average (26th), .290 on-base percentage (25th), and a .319 slugging percentage (29th) during that span.

The Pirates' recent offensive regression has been a dramatic fall from what was one of baseball's best offenses through the All-Star break.

But Pittsburgh's pitching has not performed well as of late either. The club's 4.76 ERA since July 20 is the fourth-highest mark in baseball. Paul Skenes, Braxton Ashcraft, Jared Jones, and Carmen Mlodzinski have all underperformed and posted brutal numbers during this stretch.

Specifically, Skenes has a 6.52 ERA over his last four starts. More troubling, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner exited Tuesday's start against the Marlins after five innings and just 65 pitches.

Skenes' fastball averaged a career-low 95.7 mph on Tuesday, down 1.2 mph from his season average.

Injuries to both the lineup and starting rotation have not helped either. Konnor Griffin (torn left ring finger sagittal band), Oneil Cruz (left hand fourth and fifth metacarpal non-displaced fractures), and Ryan O'Hearn (left quad strain) all remain sidelined.

Fortunately, Cruz is nearing a return and is currently on a minor league rehab assignment.

As for the rotation, Mitch Keller is out for the season after suffering a right teres major muscle injury during his Aug. 2 start.

Things aren't going to get easier for the Pirates, though, as four of their next five series are against teams over .500.

Pittsburgh looks to avoid the sweep on Thursday in Miami at 1:10 p.m. ET, with Ashcraft scheduled to take the mound.

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