The Pirates just can't seem to close teams out lately. That has been the story of the week. They lost a late lead on Sunday against the Angels thanks to the lifetime Pirate-killer, Albert Pujols. After a rainout, Monday, two stellar starts by Niese and Nicasio on a Tuesday doubleheader against the Mets led the Bucs to two 3-1 victories in Neil Walker's homecoming. He happened to receive not one but two standing ovations that day. They failed to complete the sweep as Jameson Taillon made his long-awaited Major League debut going six and giving up three runs. He looked solid throughout, but the bullpen managed to blow a 5-3 lead in the 8th and went on to lose in 10 innings. Jeff Locke dropped an 11 spot on Thursday in Denver, but then again, it's Jeff Locke. He's bound to have an awful start after several consecutive great ones. Starting to see a theme here? Well, it just doesn't stop because after Gerrit Cole left in the 3rd inning Friday due to triceps discomfort, the bullpen blew yet another lead. This time, they were up 2-0, gave up three runs in the 8th, tied it in the 9th, and still found a way to lose in 12 innings. It was in large part due to a bullpen that has had to eat up a lot of innings recently and turned to Juan Nicasio to pitch the 12th during an off day. He managed to bump up his ERA a little bit and add a loss to his now 5-5 record by giving up 6 runs in the top of the 12th alone. To top off another poor week, they dropped Saturday's game 5-1 to finish the week 2-5.

After this Cardinals series, the schedule isn't any more forgiving for the Pirates. If anything, it's more difficult. They play away against the Mets for three, away from the Cubs for three, home against the Giants and Dodgers for four a piece, then away at the Mariners, who are playing surprisingly well this year, for two to close out the month. I'm sitting here scratching my head looking for wins in the next 16 games. Just to stay in the wildcard hunt, the Pirates probably need to win 8 of those games. If they want to have a shot at the division, they probably need to win 12 or 13.

With the way the pitching staff has been yo-yo-ing recently and assuming the woes in the bullpen continue, this will be one long, grueling stretch, a gut check of sorts for the Buccos. When the dust settles and this stretch is behind them, I can see them managing to have won 9, maybe 10 games unless there was a miraculous turnaround in the middle innings relievers. Not a single win will come easy these next couple weeks, but I hope for their sake and the fans' sake, they defend the ship because right now the Pirates are being looted left and right with no end in sight.