Steven Brault To Return To The Pirate Rotation

Left-handed pitcher Steven Brault, who has one career Major League start, will return to the Pirates’ rotation on Friday night in Milwaukee.

When the Pittsburgh Pirates placed Tyler Glasnow on the disabled list following his start on Sunday afternoon they found themselves needed a starting pitcher for their game this Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Recently, left-handed starting pitchers Jon Niese and Jeff Locke were moved to the bullpen. However, many fans still speculated the Pirates would just move one of these two pitchers back to the starting rotation.

Even before Tyler Glasnow was Injured, I wrote this article saying that Steven Brault should be a member of the Pirates’ starting rotation. The Pittsburgh Pirates only need a four man rotation right now, and I said Brault should be part of that rotation. Well, Clint Hurdle must have been listening. Because after the Pirates’ 10-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners last night Hurdle announced that Steven Brault will start for the Bucs on Friday night.

This season at Triple-A, Steven Brault has been electric. In 50 1/3 innings pitched, he has missed time due to a calf injury, he has a 2.15 ERA and a 2.45 FIP. Even though Brault is averaging 3.93 BB/9 at Triple-A, it is more than made up for with his 11.80 K/9 and minuscule 0.36 HR/9. Brault also has a WHIP of just 1.25, and opposing batters are hitting just .216 off of him at Triple-A.

In one Major League start this season Steven Brault allowed one earned run in four innings pitched against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 5th. In those four innings pitched Brault allowed just four hits, he walked two batters, and he struck out five. In this start Brault showed a good fastball that averaged nearly 92 miles per hour, and he also flashed a plus slider.

Throughout his Minor League career Steven Brault has always featured three pitches, as he also throws a change up to go with his fastball and slider. All three of these pitches can play at the Major League level, and I am excited to see more of Brault. What an absolute steal that Travis Snider for Stephen Tarplay and Steven Brault trade may prove to be.

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I give credit to Neal Huntington and Clint Hurdle for going with Steven Brault. A lot of teams, including the Pirates in the past, take the cop out move here and move Locke or Niese back to the starting rotation. Another move you would often see would have been Ryan Vogelsong being reinstated from the disabled list to start Friday. However, the Pirates are going with the young talented lefty instead.

I am very excited to see what Steven Brault does in Milwaukee on Friday night. The Pirates’ left-handed starter has great stuff and an electric arm. Hopefully, if he pitches well, Brault is here to stay. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting rotation could use a boost, and Steven Brault is capable of providing said boost.