SAN DIEGO -- The Pirates still haven’t decided who will start Saturday night against the Padres. Or, perhaps, we should say who the first pitcher will be.
Clint Hurdle said Thursday that the Pirates could use an opener for the first time ever. The manager also said that Steven Brault is under consideration to make the start in his hometown.
Nick Kingham will not make the start, though. Hurdle said the right-hander is moving back to the bullpen after two difficult turns in the rotation.
The Pirates and Padres open their four-game series Thursday night at Petco Park.
Hurdle wouldn’t say who the opener might be. However, the Padres' lineup is heavy with right-handed hitters, meaning Kyle Crick or Richard Rodriguez could be logical candidates.
Righties are hitting just .120/.185/.120 against Crick this season. They have had more success versus Rodriguez, hitting .256/.357/.487 with three home runs in 43 plate appearances.
Francisco Liriano has made 300 career starts. Chris Stratton started five times for the Angels earlier this season before being traded him to the Pirates last Saturday. However, Stratton's availability might be limited — he threw 72 pitches in four innings of relief on Tuesday
If Brault does not start, it is certainly possible that he would follow the opener to the mound.
Kingham and Brault both moved from the bullpen to the rotation last week because of injuries to Chris Archer and Jameson Taillon. Both struggled, though, as Brault gave up eight runs in 7 2/3 innings and Kingham allowed nine runs in eight innings.
Archer returned from the injured list Wednesday, leaving the Pirates with only one unfilled spot in the rotation.
Hurdle admitted the Pirates would like to have at least one left-hander in a rotation that tilts heavily to the right. That would seem to enhance Brault’s chances of staying in the mix.
The Pirates feel Kingham is better suited to the bullpen, though he has a 6.39 ERA in eight relief appearances this season.
“We would like to see more aggressiveness from him,” Hurdle said. “We’ll use him for one inning, two innings, no more than three innings and see how that plays out.”
PERROTTO'S VIEW
My intuition is the Pirates will use an opener because their front office loves to be on the cutting edge of things. The Rays hatched the concept last season and have had much success with it. I really think the Pirates have been dying to try it.
