MLB SHOWDOWN 2019 SET -- Pittsburgh Pirates

If you followed @Bobbumbarger on twitter this season any time you saw a tweet go out saying " STUD ALERT" you knew Josh Bell had done something special. A stud he is, and was this season being a great player for this Pirates franchise. The Pirates finished last in the NL Central this season with a 69-93 record. Like many of the weak teams in the showdown set, the offense is good enough to get them some runs, but the pitching on this team is going to continually hurt them over and over. Even worse news for the Pirates pitching staff, is their best reliever probably won't be on the team again and their bullpen is not very strong without him.

Lineup: The Pirates lineup certainly starts off strong with Starling Marte and his 23 speed from the leadoff position. Following him is rookie sensation Bryan Reynolds, who brings a stellar 9 OB card to this lineup that can play any of the outfield positions and gets on base after 4. Josh Bell "STUD ALERT" Is hitting third and brings another good 9 OB chart to the team. After those three its a few 8 OB players Adam Frazier is hitting clean up and isn't a typical clean up hitter but his low outs on chart made me slide him above Kevin Newman who will be hitting 5th. Jose Osuna will be hitting 6th to get a big 17+ home run following the better on base batters. 7th will be Colin Moran followed by Melky Cabrera and finally Elias Diaz finishing off the batting order, and is one of the rare 10 points batting cards in the set this year.

Rotation: The rotation starts of with an average starter in Joe Musgrove, a 4 control out through 15 that you hope can survive at least the 5 innings that come on his card. Steven Brault is their number 2 starter, and he is a low control no doubles pitcher that with some hot rolling can have some good starts, ut on days that the dice aren't so kind he will get lit up. Chris Archer comes in as their third starter, I bet the wish they still had Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows instead, but instead they geta 2 control pitcher that gives up a home run. Trevor Williams card is about the same as Archer and those two will round out the pirates rotation.

Bullpen: Michael Feliz starts the bullpen off and a 4 control but also gives up a home run so a shaky start from a starter could get worse when this guy comes into the game if some 20's pop up on the roll. Francisco Liriano is a 2 control out through 18 that doesn't give up a homer, and sadly may be the go to guy in this type of bullpen that the pirates have. Richard Rodriguez is another 2 control who gives up a home run followed by Chris Statton a 0 control with a homer on his chart. Finally Clay Holmes another 0 but no homers on his chart and an 18-20 walk, if you're feeling brave enough to roll with this guy, he will at worst give up a walk if you get control.

The Pirates have a lot to improve upon, and hopefully as guys like Reynolds and Bell continue developing along Adam Frazier they can at least put a team together that can challenge in the tough NL Central. This team desperately needs some pitching or for these guys to get better. The great cards Meadows and Glasnow had this season would surely boost this team and you can see how the Chris Archer trade may have set them back a few years. Pirates have 19 players and come in at 3510 points, giving them an average of 184 points per player. This puts them near the bottom of the pack, but may have the most talented players of the bottom bunch teams in Reynolds and Bell.

 Astros - 300

 Nationals - 295

 Twins - 293

 Rays - 285

 Cubs - 278

 Red Sox - 269

 Brewers - 268

 Indians - 259 

 Braves - 256

 Yankees - 249

 Athletics - 248

 Cardinals - 245

 Reds - 238

 D-Backs - 236

 Padres - 233

 Rangers 222

 Phillies - 213

 White Sox - 185

 Pirates - 184

 Mariners - 176 

 Marlins - 171

 Blue Jays - 167

As you guys know i am all about having fun with the cards, and while this situation isn't funny, if you would like a pennant run version of their best bullpen guy I have that as well