Revamped bullpen paving the way
Despite injuries, relievers thriving
Even with a mostly different conglomerate of pitchers to turn to, manager Derek Shelton is seemingly pressing all the right buttons lately.
The Pirates will likely enter their weekend road series with the Braves — the top team in the National League — with just three relievers from their opening day roster: David Bednar, Colin Holderman and Jose Hernandez.
While that trio has provided much-needed stability at the back end of the bullpen, few other relievers with either established roles or big league experience exist throughout the rest of the roster. Excluding journeyman infielder Chris Owings’ sole inning of relief this season, Shelton has called upon 20 different pitchers out of the bullpen this season.
Yet in the Pirates’ last nine games, seven of which have been wins, their bullpen has pitched to a stingy 2.18 ERA in 45⅓ innings. That figure, which is one of the best in MLB, has been aided by the work of Bailey Falter as a bulk reliever in each of his last two appearances, producing a combined 7⅓ innings of one-run ball.
A cast featuring the likes of midseason acquisitions like Andre Jackson, Thomas Hatch and Ryan Borucki is more than getting the job done. Meanwhile, stalwarts from last season’s bullpen like Duane Underwood Jr., Chase De Jong and Wil Crowe are residing with Triple-A Indianapolis.
While Jackson’s Tuesday night start against the Brewers left something to be desired (4⅓ innings, five walks, six runs), that’s been the only true blip of his since joining the Pirates on Aug. 5. Last month, Jackson posted a 2.92 ERA while striking out 27 batters in 24⅔ innings.
Hatch has also been solid, producing a 3.44 ERA in nine games. While Jackson has been used more as a bulk reliever or true starter, Hatch has been effective both as an opener and traditional bullpen arm.
Borucki, the most tenured of the three midseason pickups, has been an excellent left-handed option in a myriad of roles. With starting experience from his time with the Blue Jays, Borucki is another opener choice and hasn’t given up an earned run since Aug. 18.
It also hasn’t hurt that there’s been some homegrown talent to turn to, as well. Back after missing nearly a month due to injury, Carmen Mlodzinski has picked up right where he left off.
The No. 31 overall pick in 2020, Mlodzinski has transitioned nicely from coming through the Pirates’ farm system as a starter to now being a valued reliever in front of Holderman and Bednar. Mlodzinski has pitched three scoreless innings since coming off the injured list, lowering his season ERA to 2.03.
Cody Bolton, a former sixth-round pick who has shuttled back and forth between Indianapolis and Pittsburgh more than anybody, has started to settle in. Ever since a forgettable outing against the Giants on May 29 in which he gave up an eight earned runs in one-third an inning, Bolton has pitched quite well. Since June 1, he has only given up two runs in 11 innings, both of which came in a win against the Royals.
Colin Selby, another of Shelton’s many opener options, has run into tough times as of late. He was tagged for three runs in a start against the Brewers on Wednesday and has yielded five earned in his last 1⅓ innings while walking three and giving up two home runs.
After producing scoreless outings in five of his six previous appearances, Selby’s ERA is now up to 7.20, raising questions as to whether the Pirates will give a different Indianapolis reliever a crack out of the bullpen. The team has shown a willingness to reward those who thrive in Triple-A, like when Hunter Stratton was called up to make his MLB debut earlier
this week.
Stratton, a 26-year-old rookie who has produced two scoreless innings so far, didn’t give up a run in August for Indianapolis. With 37 minor league starts, perhaps Stratton could be another opener option for Shelton.
Certainly, the Pirates would benefit from having a traditional five-man rotation. Mitch Keller and Johan Oviedo have been the only constants this season. Both Falter and Luis Ortiz have fared better when piggybacking an opener than operating as a true starter.
By no means has the bullpen (or pitching staff in general, for that matter) been among the best in MLB. Entering Thursday, the Pirates have posted a 4.49 team ERA — 20th in the league.
But given the turmoil created by injuries to starting options JT Brubaker, Vince Velasquez and Mike Burrows and the ineffectiveness of previously reliable bullpen options, the group as a whole could’ve easily spiraled in the second half. Instead, it’s taken a turn for the better, helping the Pirates to a month of August in which they finished above-.500 month of August and hot start to September.