Trevor Williams Set To Make First Major League Start

Sep 7, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Trevor Williams (57) makes his major league debut against the St. Louis Cardinals during the sixth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Trevor Williams (57) makes his major league debut against the St. Louis Cardinals during the sixth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Today the Pittsburgh Pirates play a double header against the Cincinnati Reds. In game two Trevor Williams will make his first career Major League start.

Right-handed pitcher Trevor Williams made his Major League debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this month. So far in September Williams has pitched in two games for the Pirates. With both of his appearances having been out of the bullpen.

Throughout Williams’ Minor League career he was a starting pitcher. And today he will get a shot at doing that at the Major League level. This is due to the fact that in game two of the Pirates double header with the Reds on Saturday afternoon Trevor Williams will be the starting pitcher.

I am glad that Trevor Williams will be making a start today. Last week, I wrote that Williams should be in the Pirates’ rotation. Personally, I believe that Williams could be a big part of the Pirates’ rotation in 2017.

Trevor Williams has pitched four Major League innings so far. In those four innings he has walked two batters, struck out four batters, he has not allowed a home run, and he has a 2.64 FIP and a 3.48 xFIP. While this is, obviously, a very small sample size so far Williams has been impressive in his Major League career.

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Through his first four Major League innings Williams has picked up where he left off at in the Minor Leagues this season. In 110 1/3 innings pitched at Triple-A this season Trevor Williams averaged 6.04 K/9, 2.45 BB/9, 0.41 HR/9, and he had a 1.21 WHIP. All of this resulted in Williams posting a 2.53 ERA and a 3.34 FIP at Triple-A this season.

Trevor Williams throws a four pitch mix with a fastball, slider, sinker, and change up. His fastball has averaged 92.1 miles per hour in the Major Leagues this season, and opposing batters have just a .306 wOBA and a wRC+ of 100 off of it. His change up is a pitch I would like to see him throw more, due to the fact he has not allowed a hit off of it yet.

I am excited to see what Trevor Williams can do in his first Major League start today. In my opinion, Williams has a high ceiling as a Major League starting pitcher. I believe Williams can be a solid middle of the rotation starting pitcher. Hopefully, he will start to show that today.

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