Pittsburgh Pirates: mlb FUTURES & BETTING ODDS

PITTSBURGH PIRATES 2021 OUTLOOK

The Pirates played in a division last year that had an unprecedented four playoff teams in it, and with the majority of last year's 60-game schedule taking place within the division, it's no surprise that the Pirates stumbled to an MLB-worst 19-41 record which gives Pittsburgh the first pick in this June's MLB Draft. 

New general manager Ben Cherington and manager Derek Shelton will have their first full 162-game season together, but the club is realistically years away from contending after trading away several players, including slugger Josh Bell to Washington this offseason.

2021 Featured Players

The Pirates are hoping to finally see what they have in Jameson Taillon, who has had two Tommy John surgeries but should be able to play a full season this year. Joe Musgrove doesn't have traditional ace stuff, but he could be the ace of this staff. Lefty Steven Brault and righty J.T. Brubaker also have some promise in the rotation. Richard Rodriguez had 32 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched last year and will start the season as the closer. The only problem is that he may not have too many save opportunities.

The lineup doesn't have a player that many people outside of the most ardent fantasy players will know outside of western Pennsylvania. Gregory Polanco is one of the only veterans remaining, and Bryan Reynolds has some pop. Third baseman KeBryan Hayes can spray the ball to all fields and is also a speed threat.  

Bet on the Pittsburgh Pirates! Pittsburgh Pirates Odds for 2021

The Buccos are the longest of longshots, as the Pittsburgh Pirates odds to win the World Series are 200/1, which is the worst number in baseball. A bet on the Pittsburgh Pirates to win the National League will payout 100/1, and the Pittsburgh Pirates odds to win the National League Central over St. Louis, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and Chicago is 66/1, the worst odds to win any division in the majors.

Pittsburgh Pirates Logo, Uniform & Stadium History

Despite the poor outlook and recent struggles, the Pirates do have a rich history, having great success in the 1970s when they won two World Series titles and reached the playoffs six times in that decade under Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, and Dave Parker. The 1960 World Series championship team is known for being the only Game 7 walk-off home run in World Series history, hit by Bill Mazeroski against the New York Yankees.

Pittsburgh won the NL East in three-straight seasons from 1990-92 with a powerful outfield of Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, and Andy Van Slyke but failed to reach the World Series. The team then went into a major slump, not reaching the playoffs again for over 20 years, getting swept in the 2013 division series and losing the wild card game in 2014 and '15, meaning that Pittsburgh hasn't won a playoff game coming up on 30 years now, which is the longest such streak in the majors. 

The Pirates have played their home games at PNC Park since the 2000 season, and the riverfront ballpark and its cozy dimensions is consistently rated one of the best in baseball. 

Pittsburgh's look hasn't changed too much over the decades. The cap is black with a yellow P on the front. The home whites say "PIRATES" across the front in black with yellow trim, while the road grays have "Pittsburgh" in script across the front. There are two black alternate jerseys. One is the same as the road version, and the other has the same P that's on the cap on the left side of the front of the jersey with the uniform number on the other side. 

2020 Record: 19-41, Fifth Place in National League Central