The Pittsburgh Pirates were the winner of the first ever MLB draft lottery. Despite not having the worst overall record they netted the first overall pick and selected who is expected to be a generational talent in Paul Skenes. One Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writer suggests that obtaining another number one pick should be their goal for the remainder of the 2023 season.
Should the Pittsburgh Pirates tank the remainder of the 2023 season?
Currently the Pirates have the sixth worst record in Major League Baseball. This gives them just a 7.5% chance at the 2024 first overall pick. Their odds would increase to 10% with the fifth worst record, 13.5% at fourth, and they would own a three way equal chance of 16.5% should they manage to get any of the third through the first worst records. Writer Joe Starkey believes the dream for the first overall pick (announced in December) is still alive and here is how Pittsburgh could do it.
That should mean shutting down Mitch Keller and Johan Oviedo, who already have eclipsed their career highs in innings, anyway. That could mean shutting down David Bednar and Colin Holderman. Maybe even give hot-hitting Ke’Bryan Hayes more days off. And by all means, if the idea is to lose, make sure Jack Suwinski is in the lineup every day and batting cleanup. Or leadoff. Call up a bunch of minor leaguers in September.
In order to slide into the top three worst records in baseball the Pirates would need to “catch” up to the Rockies in the loss column. Colorado is currently 8.5 games worse than Pittsburgh. With one month to go in the season this may be tough, but not impossible.
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