Pittsburgh Pirates Swept By St. Louis Cardinals as Woeful Play Continues

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 22: Juan Yepez #36 of the St. Louis Cardinals leans back to avoid a pitch thrown by Bryse Wilson #32 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second inning during the game at PNC Park on May 22, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 22: Juan Yepez #36 of the St. Louis Cardinals leans back to avoid a pitch thrown by Bryse Wilson #32 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second inning during the game at PNC Park on May 22, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
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PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 22: Bryse Wilson #32 of the Pittsburgh Pirates delivers a pitch in the first inning during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park on May 22, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 22: Bryse Wilson #32 of the Pittsburgh Pirates delivers a pitch in the first inning during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park on May 22, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

Bryse Wilson is not a starting pitcher

Right-handed pitcher Bryse Wilson started on Sunday afternoon and got shelled. Wilson allowed 7 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks in 1.2 innings pitched. On the season he now has a 7.53 ERA, 4.25 FIP, he’s walked 10.2% of batters faced and struck out just 17.5%.

While Wilson’s overall numbers are poor they are even worse as a starting pitcher. In 15.2 innings pitched as a starting pitcher this season Wilson has allowed 20 earned runs (12.06 ERA), to go with 11 walks, 12 strikeouts, and a .382 opposing batting average. Working as a reliever/piggyback guy Wilson has limited opposing batters to a .208 batting average against, while issuing just 3 walks and striking out 12, posting a 2.08 ERA (3 earned runs in 13 innings pitched).

It’s pretty obvious that Wilson works best coming out of the bullpen in some fashion. Hell, Wilson has even said he likes having that mentality and feels that it suits him better. At this point there is no reason for Wilson to start another game for the Pirates, especially when you have other options at Triple-A who have earned a look in the majors.

If the Pittsburgh Pirates are not going to use Wilson as a reliever/piggyback guy then they should option him to Triple-A. Wilson needs to figure something out if he’s going to make it as a starting pitcher, and the majors is not the place to be working on that. That said, a low-90s fastball with little movement will make it difficult for any pitcher to find MLB success.