At the time of this writing, it’s Thursday morning.

The Pirates are scheduled to open a four-game series with the Washington Nationals tonight at PNC Park.

It may be the most critical series of the season for the Pirates. It’s definitely the most critical series of the season to date.

Yes, it’s only Memorial Day weekend.

But it’s not a stretch to hype this series as being huge.

Consider the following:

• The Pirates entered this series with a 19-26 record and trailing three teams in the National League Central.

• They are trying to put together a winning homestand before embarking upon their first of three 10-game road trips this season — and the Pirates are only 6-14 on the road thus far.

• They are desperately looking to build momentum and avoid getting buried in the pennant race before the dog days of summer arrive.

The 2014 season is less than two months old and the Pirates have already been forced to deviate from their chartered preseason course.

Andrew Lambo was supposed to make an impact at first base. He’s still toiling in Class AAA after a miserable spring training.

Ike Davis was acquired from the Mets so the Bucs could have a viable first baseman, no offense to Gaby Sanchez, who could be an effective platoon player.

The Pirates’ closer went on the disabled list early. So did their starting catcher.

The projected right field platoon of Jose Tabata and Travis Snider failed when neither hit consistently. Josh Harrison is out there now, babysitting the position until Gregory Polanco gets there.

Their ace starting pitcher, Francisco Liriano, has not won a game yet.

The failure of the Pirates’ starting pitching in general has been the biggest disappointment thus far.

Pirate starters entered the Washington series with a combined record of 5-20. Take Gerrit Cole out of the mix and that record becomes 1-17.

The bullpen has a record of 14-6, but has blown 10 saves. The Pirates blew about that many all of last season.

The Pirate starting pitchers have allowed 134 earned runs in 264 innings. That’s an earned run average approaching 5.00.

That’s a disaster.

Wandy Rodriguez, counted on for a bounce-back year from an injury-riddled 2013 campaign, may be on the verge of being released if his game doesn’t shape up quickly.

Russell Martin, Liriano, Mark Melancon, Jason Grilli,Charlie Morton ,... These guys and others could be trade pieces by late July if the Pirates are not in the division chase by that time.

Maybe things will be different then.

Andrew McCutchen is Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker is showing more power than expected.

Besides that? Not much to talk about so far.

Maybe this Nationals series will change all of that.

For the Pirates’ sake, it better.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle