There's still a while to go in the 2015 MLB season, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are pegged as a true championship contender again this year. Here's 3 Reasons The Pirates Can Win The World Series This Year:
Who's Going To Stop Them?
The Giants' offense likes to play hide and seek, the Nationals have the stink of disaster wafting off of them, the Dodgers always fall apart in the playoffs, and we're not buying into the young Mets or Cubs squads holding down the fort all the way into the fall. That just leaves the Cardinals, who don't scare the Pirates. The National League is there for the taking, and Pittsburgh has the ability to take advantage of that opportunity.
Andrew McCutchen
McCutchen is having another MVP caliber season, batting .297 with 19 home runs and 81 RBIs through 120 games. Other than maybe Mike Trout, Andrew McCutchen is the most complete superstar in all of Major League Baseball. He's already putting it together from a contact perspective, and the pop and pure highlight-reel awesomeness will inevitably be next.
Important deadline additions
The Pirates' deadline deal for Michael Morse was met with a sigh by most baseball pundits, with Morse's putrid year at the dish (.213/.276/.313 slash, 4 HR, 63 OPS+) causing many to write him and his track record off after four bad months. We're not saying that Morse will magically figure out his swing again in the next two months -- we can't tell you for sure either way. But, what we do know is that he gives the Buccos 1B/OF versatility and manager Clint Hurdle options to work with when it comes to giving key guys rest in the dog days of August. If Morse does come back together even to a marginal approximation of his old self, that'll be a huge added bonus for one of the deepest teams in the Majors.
JA Happ is also poised to be one of those sneaky bullpen pickups who ends up paying major dividends down the stretch and in the playoffs. First and foremost, he's a southpaw -- something which inherently causes matchup problems in and of itself. Secondly, he has experience both starting and relieving, giving Hurdle an interchangeable piece to use on a situational basis. His 4.64 ERA isn't ideal, but he's a very smart bridge reliever/spot starter pickup that once again provides multiple options. Options are a luxury at this time of year.
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