Best-Joe Musgrove SP Pirates-7IP 3H 0ER 1BB 10K 1W 108PC
The Pirates have been one of the worst baseball teams in 2020, but that didn’t stop Joe Musgrove from having his best start of the season. He spoiled the Cleveland Indians’ six-game winning streak for the AL Central title. Musgrove has been a journeyman pitcher, but for one night, he had the best performance in the MLB. The Pirates haven’t had much to cheer for this season, so to have Musgrove dominate a playoff team must have felt good.
Other Notables: Ke’bryan Hayes 3B Pirates-5-5 3R; Tanner Houck SP Red Sox-6IP 3H 1ER 3BB 10K 1W; DJ LeMahieu 2B Yankees-4-5 1R 3RBI; Brandon Woodruff SP Brewers-8IP 0ER 10K 1BB 1W; Christian Vazquez C Red Sox-3-5 1R 4RBI 1HR.
Worst-Aaron Civale SP Cleveland Indians-4IP 10H 8ER 0BB 4K 82IP 1L
The Cleveland Indians have been one of the hottest teams in baseball for the last week and a half, but Civale pitched poorly against the Pirates at the wrong time of the season. Cleveland had set themselves up with a chance to move up in the standing of the NL Central. Cleveland was only one game behind the White Sox and two games behind the Twins for the Division crown before this game. Still, none of this mattered once Civale started pitching. The Pittsburgh Pirates were all over every one of his pitches. Cleveland has one of the best rotations going into the playoffs, but after this blown game, it might be time to limit Civale to bullpen appearances heading in the postseason.
Extra Trash: Trent Grisham OF Padres-0-5 4K; Paul Blackburn SP Athletics-2.1IP 5H 7ER 2BB 2K 1L; Curt Casali C Reds-0-4 3K; Jon Lester SP Cubs-3.2IP 6H 7ER 3BB 3K 1L; Jason Heyward OF Cubs-0-4 3K.