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Pittsburgh Pirates 2022 Outlook: Left-Handed Relief Options
By Marty Leap
There are plenty questions surrounding the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen entering the 2022 season, including who will be the team’s left-handed relief options
With Major League Baseball still entrenched in a work stoppage it can be difficult to look forward to the 2022 season. After all, it remains a mystery as to when spring training will even begin for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the rest of baseball.
But looking ahead to the 2022 season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, one question that remains is what the Opening Day bullpen will look like. While it is known that David Bednar and Chris Stratton will be Derek Shelton’s go-to late inning, high-leverage arms, if the latter isn’t traded, much of the rest of the bullpen make up remains up in the air. This includes what the bullpen could look like in terms of left-handed relievers.
Currently, the Pittsburgh Pirates have five left-handed pitchers on their 40-man roster. This includes offseason addition José Quintana who will start the season in the team’s starting rotation.
When fans think about left-handed relief options for the Pirates in 2022 the first name that comes to mind is likely Sam Howard. Howard has been a strikeout machine for the Pirates the past two seasons, however, struggles with control and the home run ball have plagued him.
Howard posted a 5.60 ERA and a 4.86 FIP in 54 innings pitched last season. While he struck out over 30.2% of batters faced, he allowed home runs at a 1.40 HR/9 rate and walked 16.1% of opposing batters. This came after Howard struck out 30% of batters faced in 2020, but walked batters at a 10% clip while allowing home runs at a 1.71 HR/9 rate.
If Howard can bring his walk rate back down closer to his 2020 rate, while keeping his improved, while still somewhat poor, 2021 home run rate, he could be a quality reliever for the Pirates in 2022. If nothing else, his ability to generate swings-and-misses while also negating left-handed hitters (.158/.293/.237 slash line, 26.9% strikeout rate in 2021) should land him on the team’s Opening Day roster.