2016 Pittsburgh Pirates Preview, Fantasy Baseball Draft Prep

The Pirates’ 98 wins last season would have bested the World Series-champion Royals for the top record in the American League by three games. They finished 53-28 at PNC Park, but what’s hard to fathom is the team’s HOME/AWAY team splits in relation to the home field advantage.

The Buccs hit better and scored more runs on the road - .261 BA – third-highest road batting average in MLB last season. Plus, their HOME/AWAY team pitching stats rank top five in ERA (3.00 / 3.45) and saves.

ALSO SEE: TEAM PREVIEWS ARCHIVE

In case you missed my National League Did You Know fantasy baseball notes on the Pirates, here ya go:

- Gregory Polanco hit .190 vs. LHP last season. His batting average jumped 40 points after the All-Star break. So, he finished with a strong kick.

- Alen Hanson could start season with Pirates with Jung-Ho Kang still rehabbing. Hanson stole 35 bases in 117 AAA games last season.

- Catcher Francisco Cervelli finished third in hits and second in OBP among catchers last season.

- Prospect Josh Bell hit .347 in 35 AAA games. Pirates are notorious for being patient with minor league development. However, their current options at first base are John Jaso and Michael Morse.

Projected Lineup

1.       Gregory Polanco

2.       Josh Harrison

3.       Andrew McCutchen

4.       Starling Marte

5.       John Jaso

6.       Francisco Cervelli

7.       Alen Hanson

8.       Jordy Mercer

Polanco was highly touted as he worked his way through the Pirates’ farm system … if he puts it together in his second full season, he can hit .275 with 15-20 HR and 25-30 SB … he led off most of the second half of 2015 and his average improved 40 points compared to before the All-Star break … Josh Harrison’s 2015 fantasy regression was not a huge surprise … but he did play in 30 less games than his 2014 breakout campaign … his 2B/3B eligibility and potential 10 HR / 15 SB / .290 BA production makes him an intriguing option if the price is right … McCutchen negatives are a three-year split of .246 batting average in April (patience) … also, his 11 SB were a career-low and he’ll turn 30 years old later this year … Marte has hit 19 homers in April and May over the past three seasons compared to 24 in June, July, August, and September COMBINED during the same split … noteworthy if feeling frisky on 19 homers in 2015 … the speed is legit though … Jaso will platoon and can’t DH like he did during his time with the Rays … Cervelli is a definite option in two-catcher leagues … see note on Alen Hanson above … Mercer is a stop-gap until Kang returns from injury

Projected Rotation

1.       Gerrit Cole

2.       Francisco Liriano

3.       Jon Niese

4.       Ryan Vogelsong

5.       Jeff Locke

Cole is so dominant … 24-10 record with 3.09 ERA pre-All-Star break and 16-10 with 3.05 ERA in the second half over the past three seasons … plus flirts with 9.00 K/9 annually … Liriano was 5-6 with a 2.98 ERA in the first half of 2015 and 7-1 with a 4.00 ERA in the second half … go figure … his K/9 rate north of 9.50 is delicious … as for the back-end of the rotation … look and learn 

Top Prospects

Jung-ho Kang, IF – after shredding his knee on an ugly injury, he’ll start 2016 on the mend, but is ahead of schedule and participating in spring training drills … SS-eligible with power (15 HR in 126 games plus power track record overseas) makes him intriguing draft day investment 

Tyler Glasnow, SP – nearly earned a call-up in 2015, but the Pirates like their prospects to marinate until they’re truly ready … finished 7-4 with K/9 rate well north of 10.00 in 20 minor league starts (AA / AAA) last season … doesn’t turn 23 years old until August … if any of the 3-4-5 SP’s struggle, it’ll be Glasnow called up

Jameson Taillon, SP – missed 2014 due to Tommy John surgery and most of 2015 with a hernia injury right before he was set to start pitching in the minors … for more on his arduous journey to get back on the mound, here’s a nice feature on Taillon

ALSO SEE: TEAM PREVIEWS ARCHIVE