Don't forget about Luis Ortiz

When you have a pitching staff that includes the likes of Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, and Jared Jones, it is very easy to have other pieces that may be forgotten. Although the three previously mentioned players have been amazing this season, Luis Ortiz may be the biggest reason the Pirates are 50-48. 

Ortiz has been the Swiss-army knife all season long for the Pirates pitching staff. He started the year in the bullpen, and was a valuable long reliever who helped to curtail the use of other arms. He was also used as the main pitcher in series openers, and was able to get the Pirates a big chunk of innings that led to the back end of their bullpen. 

Lately however, Ortiz was thrusted into the rotation and in his four starts he has been absolutely dominating. He has pitched to a 0.73 ERA, allowing only two earned runs in 24 ⅔ innings pitched. On the season, Ortiz has a record of 5-2 with an ERA of 2.57, and has only allowed 61 hits in 73.2 innings. One noticeable aspect of his game that Ortiz has improved is his control, only walking 21 batters while striking out 59.

Ortiz has a four-pitch mix that he has been able to throw not just for strikes, but has been painting corners. His array of a four-seamer, sinker, slider and cutter have kept hitters off balance all season long. Opponents have only hit three home runs off of Ortiz in over 70 innings, proving that hitters are having trouble squaring up his pitches. 

With Ortiz’s recent dominance, it opens up some serious questions about what do the Pirates do when Jared Jones and Bailey Falter return from their injuries. With Skenes, Jones and Keller locked into the first three spots, that leaves only two openings for Ortiz, Falter, Marco Gonzales, Martin Perez, and Quinn Priester. 

Will the Pirates go to a six-man rotation? They could add Ortiz, Falter and Gonzales to give each young pitcher an extra day off in between starts. That leaves Priester and Perez as the odd-men out. Priester could be sent back to the minor leagues and the Pirates could try and deal Perez. The Pirates could also look to move on from the youngster Priester who could fetch a better return than a journeyman like Perez. The other players who could potentially be moved are Falter and Gonzales, who may also bring a slightly better return than Perez. The Pirates are definitely in a good spot with starting pitchers and can add to this club.