PITTSBURGH CONNECTION

Surprise team of the early going? Has to be the Pirates, 6-1 through Friday’s games. After all, they traded Gerrit Cole and Andrew McCutchen during the off-season, seemingly signaling a rebuild was in the works, even if they insisted they were trying to win in 2018.

And so far who’s to argue. But will it last? I’ll say no because, well, I’m betting you can’t name more than one or two members of their starting rotation.

One is ex-Yankee Ivan Nova, who had a 6.10 ERA after two starts. Then there’s Jameson Taillon, a former top prospect who received national attention for overcoming testicular cancer last year.

The others: Steven Brault, Trevor Williams, and Chad Kuhl.