The 2024 season has had its ups and downs for the Pittsburgh Pirates. One of the bright spots for the team has been their starting pitching, with rookie Jared Jones performing at a high level.
One of the team’s top prospects coming into the year, Jared Jones lit up Spring Training. He wasn’t originally in the mix to be part of the major league roster but played so well that the team had to keep him around.
The positive momentum built in Bradenton has carried over to the regular season. Jared Jones has been excellent all season and will be in the running for the Rookie of the Year award in the National League.
On Tuesday, he had arguably his most impressive outing yet. He threw six shutout innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers, giving up only three hits and three walks with six strikeouts. That was integral to the Pittsburgh Pirates picking up a 1-0 victory in the series opener at PNC Park.
In the process, Jared Jones also matched some very impressive franchise history. As shared by the team’s official account on Facebook, he is only the fourth pitcher in franchise history to post six straight starts of 6+ innings pitched and three or fewer earned runs at home to begin a career.
The last player to do it was John Candelaria in 1975, who did it seven times. Before that, you need to go back to 1901, when Jack Chesbro did it nine times and Decon Phillips did it 11 to start their careers.
When pitching at PNC Park, Jared Jones has been truly dominant. Opponents are hitting only .200 against him, with an on-base percentage of .265 and a paltry .385 slugging percentage. His ERA is an elite 1.95 in six home starts, pitching 37 innings and giving up only nine runs, eight earned.
The future is bright for the Pittsburgh Pirates when it comes to their pitching staff. With Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller also in the big leagues, and more arms in the pipeline, there may not be a franchise in baseball with a better situation when it comes to long-term pitching upside.
Do you want the latest news, updates, and rumors surrounding all sports? Click here. Make sure to check out our sister sites as well: NFL Analysis Network, NBA Analysis Network, Packers Coverage.
