bradfordera
DENVER (TNS) The Pirates flew out west with a .500 record last Sunday.
Seven days later, after experiencing the dry heat of West Sacramento, Calif., and the altitude of Colorado, they boarded the plane at .500 yet again.
When the Pirates started their six-game road trip, they were in fourth place and 8.5 games back in the NL Central.
They were in the exact same spot when it ended Sunday with a needed 8-6 win against the Rockies.
A few pressing questions were waiting for them when they returned to Pittsburgh ahead of a six-game homestand against Seattle then Cincinnati.
Will they get good news? Despite the off day, Monday is shaping up to be an important day for the Pirates.
After being hit in the right elbow by a liner Sunday, right-hander Jared Jones will be evaluated by the Pirates medical staff in Pittsburgh.
Initial imaging was negative, but the Pirates will be able to take a more detailed look Monday.
Oneil Cruz, too, will be evaluated by medical staff Monday.
He has not resumed baseball activities after suffering two fractures on his left hand, with the Pirates wanting to give his metacarpals time to heal.
Speaking on his radio show Sunday, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said he hoped the appointment would give the Pirates some clarity on his recovery timeline.
Triple-A left-hander Hunter Barco, MLB Pipelines No.
3 Pirates prospect, will also be evaluated Monday.
He allowed five hits and four earned runs in 1 1/3 innings on Friday.
Cherington said Barco was experiencing pain in his elbow area, although Cherington said its in a higher spot than the UCL.
Konnor Griffin has no known updates coming Monday, although his health is important, too.
The hope is for Griffin to begin a rehab assignment late in the week.
The Pirates could certainly use both Griffin and Cruz in the lineup.
Jones hasnt been at his best, but if Mondays tests show anything that Sundays imaging missed, itd be a blow.
Carmen Mlodzinski would presumably slot back easily back into the rotation, but the depth behind him and in the bullpen would take a hit.
Given all that, Monday will be important for the Pirates, both immediately and for their future.
Which Pirates offense is real? At times on the road trip, the Pirates clearly missed Cruz and Griffin.
At others, they didnt seem to miss them at all.
The Pirates scored 12, eight and six runs in their three wins.
They were held to three, two and one in their losses.
Those numbers are fine amidst the randomness of a baseball season, but the losses are eye-catching at Coors Field and Sutter Health Park, the two most offense-friendly ballparks in baseball.
They also struggled greatly against Kyle Freeland and Tomoyuki Sugano, two Rockies who arent necessarily aces.
Bryan Reynolds and Spencer Horwitz are playing some of the best baseball of their careers.
Reynolds is batting .371 during a 21-game on-base streak, while Horwitz is batting .310 in his past 40 games.
Meanwhile, Brandon Lowe is batting .197 in June, although that includes four homers.
Ryan OHearn is batting .229 in the month, which includes a 7-for-14 series against the Athletics.
The Pirates are 7-11 in June.
Their .779 OPS ranks 11th this month.
It wouldnt be accurate to say the Pirates are slumping when Reynolds and Horwitz are hitting so well.
It also wouldnt be accurate to say it's been a particularly strong offensive month.
The Pirates are looking for offensive consistency.
If they find it, itll go a long way before and after Griffin and Cruz return.
How do they fix the bullpen? But of course, the biggest question for the Pirates is the one that has plagued them all season the bullpen.
Mason Montgomery allowed three consecutive hits with two outs Friday, turning a nice comeback into a loss.
Dennis Santana and Gregory Soto, who entered the year as the teams top two leverage options, nearly unraveled and blew a seven-run lead Sunday.
Pirates pitchers not just relievers have a 5.11 ERA in June, which ranks 25th in baseball.
The Rockies and Athletics are 29th and 30th.
The Pirates went just 3-3.
Cherington said Sunday the Pirates have engaged all 29 teams on trade help, even if deals are generally slow until around the All-Star break.
The Pirates made one deal last week to get Hunter Stratton even if the primary purpose of that trade was to move Joey Bart, who was deemed surplus at the catcher position.
Stratton was a start.
The Pirates need more.
Perhaps a more flexible role for Mlodzinski will help.
By throwing only two innings Saturday, he will be available as soon as Tuesday.
He would have thrown a third inning had the Pirates tied it, but it still was a shorter outing.
Maybe Stratton could help.
He threw two scoreless innings in Indianapolis on Sunday.
Or perhaps someone else in Triple-A could emerge.
Regardless, the bullpen remains the most significant issue the Pirates face.
Its the biggest reason why the Pirates remain at .500 instead of above it.