These Pirates pitchers will be competing for a rotation spot in 2025

The Pirates, as a whole, were disappointing in 2024, but they can lay claim to one of the best pitching trios in all of baseball. This trio includes Mitch Keller, Paul Skenes, and Jared Jones. Each player is locked into the team for the next half-decade. That's a very good thing.

With those three locking up spots in the rotation for many years to come, there are two other spots that are up for grabs, as well as potential depth roles. There are multiple pitchers involved in the process who have looked very good at the major league level, but there are also prospects with higher ceilings that could create competition for limited spots this spring. Given the information we currently have, the competition for the final two spots in the Pirates' 2025 rotation could come down to these names.

Which Pirates pitchers will be competing for a rotation spot in 2025?

Luis Ortiz has taken big steps this season towards living up to his former highly-ranked prospect potential. He started the year as a long reliever, but was given another opportunity in the rotation and has exceeded expectations.

This season, Ortiz has posted an earned run average of 3.45 in 122.2 innings and has limited opponents to a .218 batting average. He has also struck out 95 batters and has a WHIP of just 1.13. These numbers are excellent, and they give Ortiz a strong likelihood of starting 2025 in the rotation.

Another arm that exceeded expectations for the Pirates this year was Bailey Falter. Coming out of spring training, Falter was looking like a candidate to be designated for assignment, but he came out of the gates hot and pitched his way into consideration for a 2025 rotation spot.

In 2024, Falter has pitched in 134.1 innings with an earned run average of 4.15 and a FIP of 4.26. He also has a WHIP of 1.27 and an opposing batting average of .252. Being a left-hander also helps, as he is the only southpaw starter on the Pirates. That alone gives him a solid chance at making it to next season, but his spot is far from guaranteed.

The Pirates' No. 1 prospect, Bubba Chandler, has also emerged as a potential starting pitcher for Pittsburgh in 2025. He has dominated in both Double-A and Triple-A, which has set him up for a bigger role next season.

Recently, he has dominated with the Indianapolis Indians. In Triple-A, Chandler has a 1.83 earned run average in 39.1 innings pitched, with a WHIP of 1.04. Opponents are batting just .183 against him and he has struck out 54 batters. He is quickly emerging as a potential starter for the Pirates with a similar road to Jared Jones.

The last pitcher who will be competing for a spot will be Johan Oviedo. The young right-hander had a standout 2023 season as a starting pitcher, but got Tommy John surgery in the winter before the 2024 season. Reports indicate that Oviedo will be ready to go during spring training, which will give him an opportunity to compete for a starting spot.

In 2023, Oviedo tossed 177.2 innings and posted an earned run average of 4.31 with a 4.49 FIP. Opponents batted just .235 against him, and his WHIP was at 1.37. He has very good stuff, but control has been an issue for him. It will be tough for him to get back up to speed with the rest of the pitchers, but when he is in a groove, Oviedo is a very good pitcher. Odds are, he'll start 2025 with a significant innings limit.

Going into next season, the Pirates should have another top-of-the-league starting rotation, but who will close out that rotation remains a question. They have a strong trio to add on to, but another four solid internal arms, plus external additions, will be competing to fill two open spots. Add a bullpen and flesh out the lineup, and Pittsburgh could really be in business.