BRADENTON, FL (93.7 The Fan) – The competition continues for the last two rotation spots as Bailey Falter gave up three runs in 3.2 innings in a 3-2 Pirates lost to Toronto Thursday night.
“He struggled in the first with his command and then was able to settle down a little bit and be effective,” said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. “We got to clean up being in the zone early because he threw 38 pitches in the first, a lot of three-ball counts. We just have to make sure that we are in the zone early for him to be effective.”
“I’ve kinda battled the first inning my whole entire career,” Falter said. “Usually once I get out of that, we end up cruising. It’s just getting my feet wet a little bit, honestly. Trying to get in the feel of things and stuff like that. Stuff to work on in the bullpen, for sure.”
Falter said he’s thrown the ball ‘decently’ and the numbers don’t show the quality. Overall, 0-2 with a 7.88 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP pitching 16 innings with 15 strikeouts and three walks.
2 homers
The Pirates runs on a pair of home runs on Thursday. One by Bryan Reynolds, right-handed.
“Felt good to get a barrel,” Reynolds said. “It’s always good to get one. Season starts in a few days, so hopefully I’ll find a barrel lefty in the next couple of games and go from there on both sides.”
The other homer by Jared Triolo, who replaced Ke’Bryan Hayes at third base. It’s his second of the Spring and he’s hitting .353 overall with a .436 OBP and .995 OPS during Grapefruit League games while playing mostly at second base.
“I think offensively it’s a reaffirmation that he’s able to continue and repeat it,” Shelton said about Triolo’s swing. “Defensively, he’s improved around the bag. He’s a big guy and we know how good he is at third base, but moving over to second. That’s a challenging position for a guy his size. I think around the bag on the turns is where it’s been the most impressive in terms of improvement.”
Shelton said he didn’t know, or wouldn’t say if Triolo will be the starting second baseman, only that there is a spot for him on the roster.
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Roster moves
Bucs sent outfielder Joshua Palacios and second baseman Nick Gonzales to Triple A camp. Palacios spot taken for sure when Michael A. Taylor was signed to play in the outfield, Gonzales was in a battle to be the starting second baseman but had only four extra base hits in 35 at bats. The Pirates now have 43 active players in MLB camp.
Roansy to pen
His last two outings short and in relief, Shelton confirmed Roansy Contreras is moving to the bullpen for now. He threw a scoreless inning on Thursday giving up a hit while striking out the other three batters, 12 strikes in 15 pitches. On Monday he threw 1.2 innings giving up two hits and no runs with three walks and five strikeouts.
“I think we saw the stuff playing in shorter stints, in shorter innings being able to execute the fastball and the slider,” Shelton said. “That’s not to say at some point there’s not a transition back, but right now we see the best fit for us is a bullpen guy.”
Relievers hurt
He was the return for former starting shortstop and first-round pick Kevin Newman from the Reds and Dauri Moreta flourished with the Pirates in 2023. The 26-year-old went 5-2 with a 3.72 ERA in 55 games. The WHIP was 1.08 and he gave up only four home runs and struck out 76 in 58 innings.
The right-hander is lost for 14-16 months as he underwent Tommy John surgery. There is hope his recovery time would be a little shorter due to being a relief pitcher. Moreta will report to Florida in a few days to start the rehab process.
A competitive balance first-round pick in 2020, Carmen Mlodzinski got a call-up to the majors last year and had a 2.25 ERA in 35 games with a 3-3 record and a save. He experienced right forearm tightness on March 14 and is now back to playing catch out to 120 feet. The hope is he will be ready to pitch off the mound again in the next couple of days. The season opens on March 29 in Miami.
Friday matchup
Jared Jones last opportunity to show what he can do before the season begins, he starts at Baltimore on Friday night. Hear that game on 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA.