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Pittsburgh Pirates: Internal Starting Rotation Options for 2022

By Marty Leap

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 24: Pitcher Miguel Yajure #89 of the Pittsburgh Pirates delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of a game at Citizens Bank Park on September 24, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 24: Pitcher Miguel Yajure #89 of the Pittsburgh Pirates delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of a game at Citizens Bank Park on September 24, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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Jul 31, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher JT Brubaker (34) throws against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 31, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher JT Brubaker (34) throws against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Wil Crowe, JT Brubaker, Roansy Contreras

Wil Crowe came to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Josh Bell trade and went on to lead the team in starts (25) this past season. While Crowe largely struggled posting a 5.48 ERA, 5.57 FIP, walking 11% of batters faced and allowing home runs at a concerning rate of 1.93 HR/9, he will still have an opportunity to crack the team’s Opening Day rotation.

Crowe’s past home long-term is still the bullpen, but he did something few other pitchers did in 2021 which is stay healthy and take the ball every five days for the Pirates. This will work in his favor for earning an Opening Day rotation spot. Also, depending on how the the rotation is addressed this offseason, the Pirates may simply need arms to fill out the rotation.

Early on in the season JT Brubaker appeared to be emerging as a potential rotation building block for the Pirates. But then in mid-May he started on a slide that just simply never ended, leading to him having a poor season.

Brubaker went on to post a 5.36 ERA, 5.16 FIP, 7.1% walk rate and a 24% strikeout rate in 124.1 innings pitched across 24 starts. Like Crowe, Brubaker’s biggest issue was the home run ball as he allowed home runs at an alarming 2.03 HR/9 rate. Brubaker has better pure stuff than Crowe and has a better chance of being a long-term rotation piece. That said, it is certainly possible that his long-term home ends up the bullpen where his stuff could play up and make him a plus reliever. Where Brubaker begins the 2022 season will likely hinge on what pitching additions/subtractions we see from the Pirates this offseason. Brubaker could start the season in the Triple-A starting rotation, MLB starting rotation or MLB bullpen.

Ben Gamel's Potential Role in 2022. dark. Next

As much as Pirate fans, and likely the Pirates, would love to see Contreras in the team’s Opening Day starting rotation, odds of that are likely low. That is, unless the new CBA fixes the ridiculous service time rule. If it does not than Contreras will start the season at Triple-A so the Pirates can secure an extra year of control before he joins the rotation in May or June.

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