Pittsburgh Pirates Announce Starting Rotation Plans

Sunday morning the Pittsburgh Pirates announced their starting rotation plans for the upcoming days, as well as leaving one rotation spot as TBA

Saturday night JT Brubaker started for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In their 3-2 walk off victory against the Philadelphia Phillies, Brubaker turned in a strong start allowing just 1 run while striking out 4 in 6 innings pitched.

Following the game it was unclear who would start for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday afternoon. Now it is known who will toe the rubber for the Pirates at 1:05 when they go for the sweep of the Phillies. Right-handed pitcher Mitch Keller will make his return to the Majors on Sunday afternoon.

In 12 MLB starts this season Keller owns a 7.04 ERA, 4.95 FIP, 12.7% walk rate, 22.4% strikeout rate and a home run rate of 1.33 HR/9 in 47.1 innings pitched. With Keller looking to solidify his spot in the Pirate rotation in 2022 and beyond the starts he gets down the stretch could be critical for his future.

Sunday morning manager Derek Shelton also announced the team’s starting pitchers for Monday and Tuesday in Milwaukee. The newly acquired Bryse Wilson will start Monday night while Max Kranick will get the ball on Tuesday night.

Wilson is a former top 100 prospect who has struggled in his MLB career with a lifetime 5.90 ERA and 5.52 FIP. That said, Wilson is still just 23-years-old and has already pitched successfully in the postseason. Wilson should get plenty of opportunities down the stretch to attempt to harness his plus stuff.

Kranick will be making his 5th career start. Through his first 4 starts Kranick has walked just 6.7% of batters faced while striking out 18.7%, posting a 7.31 ERA and a 3.53 FIP in 16 innings pitched. Kranick has been burnt by a .373 batting average on balls in play. Kranick is another young player that the Pirates will be giving plenty of opportunity to down the stretch.

While Wednesday’s starter remains TBA the evidence point toward Steven Brault making his season debut. Brault has missed the entire season due to a shoulder issue but has been with the Pirates and partaking in pregame activities this weekend.

Brault has made 4 rehab starts. In these 4 starts he has allowed 2 runs on 7 hits, 3 walks and 12 strikeouts in 12.2 innings pitched. All signs seem to be pointing toward Brault joining the rotation on Wednesday in Milwaukee.