Pittsburgh Pirates: Potential Future For These Players

Tyler Beede

Tyler Beede has been quite decent for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season. He has a 4.01 ERA, 4.43 FIP, and 1.36 WHIP since being acquired by the Bucs. Beede has a 48.4% ground ball rate while holding opponents to an 87.4 MPH exit velocity. That makes up for his poor 14.9% strikeout rate and 9.6% walk rate.

For a waiver claim, the Pirates have done pretty well. Beede has seen a massive uptick in fastball velocity and active spin, making his four-seamer much more effective. He’s also added a sinker to his arsenal, a strategy that has worked for Mitch Keller and so far Bryse Wilson, and has made his change-up his most used offering.

The Pirates have used Beede both in a relief role and opener role; however, they’ve been trying to stretch him out more and more. But everything he’s displayed so far has shown he excels when he is only asked to take on one or two innings at a time.

Beede holds opponents to a .277 wOBA and .623 OPS the first time through the order. He’s also only allowed eight earned runs in 36.1 innings and carries a 50.9% ground ball rate. However, when he has to face the order a second time, opponents crush Beede for a .975 OPS and .421 wOBA. Batters hit like Javier Baez when they have to face him once, but then hit like Yordan Alvarez when they have to face him a second time. It’s only been six innings of work and ten games, but he’s given up nine earned runs when he faces the order twice.

Beede is a good reliever. He can mow down batters for one or two innings at a time, but when he’s tasked with starting games and going through the order at least twice, it’s not going to end well. I think Beede can be an excellent pitcher, but only as a reliever.