Bryan Reynolds: An Unlucky Stretch at the Worst Time Only Further Cements Pirates’ Cursed Nature
One of the many players the Pittsburgh Pirates needed to get hot during the second half of the season, so they could keep their postseason hopes alive at the time, was veteran switch-hitter Bryan Reynolds. At the end of July, the outfielder was batting .268/.381/.453 with a .367 wOBA and 129 wRC+. He had 15 …
Chicago, Illinois, USA – Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Bryan Reynolds has been struggling with bad luck during the second half of the 2026 season, which could prove to be a significant setback for the team. At the end of July, Reynolds was batting an impressive .268/.381/.453 with a .367 wOBA and 129 wRC+. However, since the start of August, his performance has taken a nosedive, as he is currently hitting .245/.324/.346 with a .302 wOBA and 86 wRC+.
Reynolds has only managed two home runs in nearly 180 plate appearances since August 1, despite possessing raw power with an average exit velocity of 91.6 MPH and a 12.4% barrel rate. His plate discipline has also improved, with a walk rate of just 9.5%. Reynolds' xwOBA is .356, which is 54 points higher than his current wOBA, indicating that he is not making solid contact.
This bad stretch of luck couldn't come at a worse time for the Pirates, who desperately needed Reynolds' consistent performance to keep their postseason hopes alive.
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