Pittsburgh Pirates: Final 2023 Opening Day Roster Projection

Bullpen - David Bednar, Wil Crowe, Colin Holderman, Jose Hernandez, Duane Underwood Jr., Chase De Jong, Dauri Moreta, Rob Zastryzny

The top six here has been consistent throughout with David Bednar, Wil Crowe, Colin Holderman, Jose Hernandez, Duane Underwood Jr., and Chase De Jong. Dauri Moreta joined the most recent Opening Day roster projection and remains there.

Moreta has the stuff to be a very good MLB reliever. This spring he's done a better job of harnessing his stuff and with his command. This led to him posting a 1.04 ERA while walking just one batter and striking out 12 in 8.1 innings pitched this spring.

For the first time this spring lefty Rob Zastryzny appears in the projected Opening Day bullpen. It is very hard to envision the Pirates heading into the season with a Rule 5 Draft addition who has never pitched above the Double-A level in Hernandez as the only lefty in the bullpen.

Zastryzny is the only other left-handed reliever remaining in camp. He has also earned a spot. In Grapefruit League action he allowed five hits, hit a batter, walked a batter, and struck out 10 in 7.1 scoreless innings pitched.

This group is by far the team's biggest question mark entering the season. There is some potential in thsi bulpen if guys like Holderman and Moreta take a step forward, Underwood Jr. finds consistency, and De Jong repeats what he did last season. It could aslo be one of the worst, if not the worst, bullpen in the National League. Oscar Marin will have his work cut out for him with his bullpen this season.