The biggest reason for the decline of the Pittsburgh Pirates has been the pitching. None of the starters have been reliable. The bullpen has shown a propensity to lose a lead. Over the last seven days the opponent's on-base percentage is second worse with only Cincinnati statistically worse. Not surprisingly, the Reds are also crashing out. Unfortunately for Pirates' fans, the last month has brought back bad memories from 2011 and 2012.

To reinforce how bad the pitching has been since the MLB All-Star Break, let's take a look at some numbers.

2014 Post All-Star Game Pitching Stats

Category Number MLB Ranking
Opponent Slugging .392 18
Blown Saves 6 2
Save Opportunities 12 17
Hits Allowed 275 9
Home Runs Allowed 28 12
Total Bases Allowed 409 13

Many of the teams worse than them in these categories are out of the playoff race. For comparison, the Pirates finished 18th in total bases allowed, third in save opportunities, and 16th in home runs allowed prior to the All-Star Game. 

Vance Worley is 3-2 since the All-Star Game and is tied with Tony Watson for most wins on the staff in that time. The starting rotation has an ERA near four. 

2012 Post All-Star Game Pitching Stats

Category

 Number MLB Ranking
Opponent Slugging .398 13
Blown Saves 9 11
Save Opportunities 25 24
Hits Allowed 678 10
Home Runs Allowed 77 17
Total Bases Allowed 1055 16

The Buccos were fifth in opponents slugging prior to the break in 2012. Their five blown saves before the All-Star Game was 28th, which was the same ranking for hits allowed. 

Wandy Rodriguez and Kevin Correia were the only pitchers on the staff with more wins than losses in the second half of 2012. There were 10 pitchers with an ERA over four in the second half as opposed to just three in the first half. The team ERA went from 3.47 before the break to 4.29 after.

2011 Post All-Star Game Pitching Stats

Category Number MLB Ranking
Opponent Slugging .438 27
Blown Saves 11 4
Save Opportunities 27 15
Hits Allowed 730 2
Home Runs Allowed 75 13
Total Bases Allowed 1112 4

The Pirates were 20th in hits allowed before the break that year. They were 19th in blown saves. The second-half team ERA was 4.78.

Jason Grilli and Watson were the only pitchers over .500 in the second half of 2011. The combined ERA of Jeff Karstens, Chris Resop, Daniel McCutchen and Brad Lincoln was 5.23. 

It doesn't take stats to know that the pitching has went downhill, especially over the last month. Opponents have scored seven or more runs eight times over the last month. The Pirates hope that Gerrit Cole's return will turn this around. It will take more than just one pitcher who is coming off an injury to turn the numbers in the right direction.