Pittsburgh Pirates: It’s Time to Move on From Dovydas Neverauskas

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 08: Dovydas Neverauskas #66 of the Pittsburgh Pirates reacts after giving up a two run home run in the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox at PNC Park on September 8, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 08: Dovydas Neverauskas #66 of the Pittsburgh Pirates reacts after giving up a two run home run in the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox at PNC Park on September 8, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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Now in his fourth season of struggling against MLB hitters, it is time for the Pittsburgh Pirates to move on from reliever Dovydas Neverauskas.

Even MLB players who struggle are among the best, most talented players in the world at their sport. For players such as Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dovydas Neverauskas, this can be easy to forget some times.

Neverauskas made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017. He has pitched for the Pirates each of the past four seasons, but he has yet to find any sort of success. This is why it can be difficult to remember that he is among the most talented pitchers in the world.

In Tuesday night’s victory over the Chicago White Sox, Neverauskas pitched the 5th inning for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Inehriting a scoreless tie, Neverauskas allowed 3 runs in the inning. This inlcuded allowing a 3-run home run to Yasmani Grandal.

Neverauskas now owns an ERA of 8.40 this season. This includes a poor 10.0% walk rate, and an even worse 2.40 HR/9. Unfortunately, these struggles are nothing new for Neverasukas. As a result, it is time for the Pirates to go their seperate ways from the Lithuania native.

Entering play on Tuesday night Neverauskas had pitched 75.2 MLB innings. In these 75.2 innings of work, Neverauskas had allowed 18 home runs (2.14 HR/9), walked 9.4% of batters faced, struck out just 20.8% of batters faced, and owned a woeful 6.78 ERA.

At this point it is painfully obvious that Neverauskas does not have what it takes to be a successful MLB relief pitcher. Worst of all, he continues to block highly touted Pirate relief pitching prospect Blake Cederlind.

Even without the struggles of Neverauskas there is zero reason for Cederlind to not be on the active roster. Throw in those aforementioned struggles, and, well, having Cederling in Altoona is just flat out silly.

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The rest of the 2020 season needs to be about the future for the Pittsburgh Pirates. It is painfully obvious that Neverauskas is not part of the this future. It is time for the Pirates to cut ties with Neverauskas and stop giving innings to him that could go to a reliever who may be part of the team’s future. Even if that reliever is not Cederlind.