Since moving to the cleanup spot on May 5th, Pedro Alvarez has done nothing but disappoint in the numbers category. Going 2-25 (.080 avg) with 0 homers and just 1 RBI, there isn't much to merit Alvarez as being productive in the 4 spot. But you must look around the Alvarez stats and see what it has done for Andrew McCutchen and the Pirates.
Pittsburgh Pirate fans weren't the only ones to see Alvarez's home run splurge. Pitchers around the league are being more cautious with Alvarez (6 walks in the 8 games at the 4 spot), and in turn are giving McCutchen better pitches to hit.
No one wants to see El Toro come to the plate with runners on. McCutchen is batting 12-24 (.500 avg) with 3 homers and 6 RBIs with the big man batting behind him. The Pirates are 5-3 in these 8 games and this is without Alvarez producing a lick.
Don't expect Alvarez to bat .300 any time soon, but with McCutchen reaching base at over 40 percent of the time, expect the RBI numbers to increase. The Pirates have been lacking the big bat in the middle of the lineup for years, and if Alvarez can continue to bring that fear into opposing pitching, it can only help the Pirates. Just a small step in ending "The Streak".
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