Oviedo continues to deliver as Pirates' rotation thins further taken at PNC Park (Pirates)

JUSTIN BERL / GETTY

Johan Oviedo delivers a pitch in the first inning Satuday at PNC Park.

This offseason, one of the Pirates' greatest priorities was to acquire more starting pitching depth, and for the most part, they succeeded. Rich Hill has been a steady, veteran hand who has provided value on the mound and in mentoring a young pitching staff. Vince Velasquez was a pleasant surprise in April, giving the Pirates a reliable starting five.

That rotation has been hit hard these first two-and-a-half months of the season, however. JT Brubaker and Mike Burrows both underwent season-ending UCL surgeries in April, as did Velasquez on Wednesday. 

Even though the Pirates lost to the Mets, 5-1, Saturday at PNC Park, they still remain tied for first place in the National League Central with a 33-30 record. Staying in first is going to be harder without Velasquez, even if it has been a month since he's been available, sans one brief outing against the Mariners. It could potentially be even harder if Roansy Contreras does not regain his starting form soon, assuming he is given another opportunity in the rotation after struggling Wednesday.

“What it means for this rotation moving forward is exactly when he went out with the injury – it tests depth," Derek Shelton said. "We’re going to have to have different guys step up, whether it’s guys that are here or guys within the organization, just like when we’ve lost relievers or position players before, then the next guy’s gotta step up. It tests our depth a little bit.”

There isn't exactly a lot of depth to pull from at the moment. While a conversation with a source this homestand did confirm that, as of right now, the Pirates are looking towards adding before the trade deadline if they are still in the mix for a playoff spot -- and it would seem safe to assume a starting pitcher would be on the shopping list if that's the case -- it's most likely too soon to swing a significant trade right now. That's just how the trade market usually progresses from June into July.

That means there is still Quinn Priester waiting in Indianapolis and not much more in terms of guarantees after him. Contrary to a popular misconception, there isn't a firm Super-Two cutoff date, as it changes every year, but going by recent years as an example, that cutoff for an extra arbitration year for players is either rapidly approaching or in the past.

Max Kranick came up to PNC Park this weekend and threw in front of the pitching team after spending almost the entire season in Manatee County, Fla. and Pirate City as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery. He'll face live batters for the first time since his Tommy John surgery on June 23 and should start a rehab assignment in August. He told me (on the condition of me knocking on wood) that he is on pace for a September return to the majors.

After that, it's slim pickings. Right-hander Osvaldo Bido is 27 with a 4.55 ERA for Class AAA Indianapolis and is probably the next guy on the depth chart after Priester. The word on him during my recent trip to Indianapolis is he is depth, but probably not someone who is a long-term option. Kent Emmanuel and Caleb Smith are two veteran starters in Indianapolis with ERAs north of 6. Cam Alldred has had good early results as he transitions back into the rotation, but he is unproven and not fully stretched out as a starter.

There could potentially be reinforcements coming down the road, but right now, it's all hands on deck. There are four potential starters on the injured list because of Tommy John or UCL surgeries. 

That makes someone like Johan Oviedo even more vital to the rotation. To his credit, he has excelled of late after a rough path in late April and early May. Over his last six outings, he has totaled 34 1/3 innings with a 2.62 ERA. That includes 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball Saturday, where he watched the eventual winning run score off Mark Canha's bat from the dugout, as Dauri Moreta could not strand his one inherited runner in the seventh.

He's incorporated a sinker more over the past month, allowing his slider to play up. And as Starling Marte can attest, that slider is already a plus pitch:

"Being able to execute different pitches is the way it is, including the sinker," Shelton said. "He had all of his stuff working today. Slider was good. But I think the fact that he stayed in attack mode the whole game was what really stood out."

That slump Oviedo had seems like a memory at this point. For someone who entered spring training without a firm spot in the rotation, he has given the Pirates some much-needed stability.

"It’s a long season," Oviedo said about bouncing back from that slump. "I try not to think about bad results. For me, today’s game still isn’t over in my mind, but tomorrow, it will be out of my mind. That’s how I try to keep it: Focus on the next game, on the next pitch, on the next batter."

Oviedo has already thrown more major-league innings this year (71 1/3) than any other season of his major-league career. He's already nearing the amount of innings he threw a year ago (117 1/3) and his high as a professional (146 2/3 frames in 2019). For a team that needs starting pitching, keeping him healthy and effective is going to be vital. if this team is going to stay competitive, he is going to need to continue to deliver quality starts.

That pressure doesn't matter to Oviedo, though. Neither does team's situation, either. He's going to compete.

"Every time that I’m going out there, I’m always going to give my 100 percent," Oviedo said. "This is the game I love and the game I’ve been playing my whole life. So, every time that I go out there, it doesn’t matter what the situation is or what’s going on around me. I’m always going to give my 100 percent of what I have and try to compete. I like to win. So, I’m always going to push as hard as I can."

Brandon Nimmo makes a catch at the wall to rob Connor Joe of an extra-base hit in the third inning Saturday.

JUSTIN BERL / GETTY

Brandon Nimmo makes a catch at the wall to rob Connor Joe of an extra-base hit in the third inning Saturday.

THE ESSENTIALS

Boxscore 
• 
Live file
• Standings
• Statistics
• Schedule
Scoreboard

THE HIGHLIGHTS

"

THE INJURIES

15-day injured list: RHP Vince Velasquez (elbow)

• 60-day injured list: 1B Ji-Man Choi (Achilles), RHP Wil Crowe (shoulder), RHP JT Brubaker (elbow), SS Oneil Cruz (ankle), LHP Jarlin Garcia (elbow), RHP Max Kranick (elbow)

THE LINEUPS

Shelton's card:

1. Andrew McCutchen, DH
2. Bryan Reynolds
, LF
3. Connor Joe
, RF
4. Carlos Santana
, 1B
5. Jack Suwinski
, CF
6. Ke'Bryan Hayes
, 3B
7. Ji Hwan Bae
, 2B
8. Tucupita Marcano
, SS
9. Jason Delay
, C

And for Buck Showalter's Mets:

1. Brandon Nimmo, CF
2. Francisco Alvarez
, C
3. Jeff McNeil
, 2B
4. Francisco Lindor
, DH
5. Starling Marte
, RF
6. Brett Baty
, 3B
7. Tommy Pham
, LF
8. Luis Guillorme
, SS
9. Mark Canha
, 1B

THE SCHEDULE

The Pirates will try to close the homestand with a series win Sunday. Mitch Keller (7-2, 3.60) will try to break out of his mini funk against Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 5.94). First pitch will be at 1:35 p.m. DK will have you covered.

THE MULTIMEDIA

THE CONTENT

Visit our team feed for all the latest around the clock and our team page for everything else.

Loading...
Loading...