Pittsburgh Pirates: Current Starting Rotation Options

 Returning options

Two young righties who appear to be in good shape to crack the Opening Day rotation are Miguel Yajure and Bryse Wilson. Both have been acquired in the last calendar year, Yajure is currently a top 100 prospect, per FanGraphs, and Wilson is a former top 10 prospect in the Brave farm system.

In limited action with the Pittsburgh Pirates last season both Yajure and Wilson flashed the stuff that led to them being highly touted prospects. However, both saw their overall numbers be poor due to two poor starts. Yajure and Wilson are both pitchers who the Pirates may look to build around for the long-term. Due to this, odds are, the Pirates will want to give them both a long look out of the rotation this season.

Wil Crowe (25) and JT Brubaker (24) led the Pirates in starts made last season. However, both struggled with Crowe fishing with a 5.48 ERA and a 5.67 FIP, while Brubaker finished with an ERA of 5.36 and a FIP of 5.16. Both likely have a higher ceiling as a reliever than as a starter, especially Crowe, but the Pirates likely want both of them to remain as starting pitchers for now, which could lead to one or both of them starting the season at Triple-A.

Finishing third among Pirate starters in starts made last season was Mitch Keller. By now everyone knows the story of Keller. The former top 50 prospect has been nothing short of a disaster in the Majors, owning a 6.02 ERA in 39 career starts. While the Pirates may not be ready to give up on Keller just yet, it is also not a guarantee he even starts the season in the Majors let alone in the starting rotation.

Max Kranick and Dillon Peters combined to make 15 starts with the Pirates last season. Odds are neither will be much of a threat to crack the Opening Day rotation. Kranick will be at Triple-A, with his best long-term home potentially being as a power reliever, while Peters, if on the Opening Day roster, will likely be in the bullpen.

One other name people will mention, and for good reason, is potential future ace Roansy Contreras. Unless the new CBA changes service time/arbitration rules Contreras will start the season at Triple-A before coming to Pittsburgh at some point in June. If these rules are adjusted, however, and depending on the adjustments, Contreras could be in play for an Opening Day roster spot. For now the safe bet is to assume he’ll start at Indianapolis.