The Pittsburgh Pirates are in a tight postseason race in the National League Wild Card, and if they can't turn things around soon, the postseason could slip out of reach.
Considering how good their offense is, the Pirates should be a lot closer than they are. But, at 5.5 games out heading into play on Friday, August 21st, the Pirates really could use some help.
Help could be coming in the form of a flame-throwing pitcher, Khristian Curtis, who MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo, Jim Callis, and Sam Dykstra identified as someone the Pirates could call up this season for the home stretch of the year.
"He tossed five shutout innings in relief for his big-league debut last month, and he deserves the chance to show what he can do for longer, even if it's as a multi-inning guy out of the pen," Mayo, Callis and Dykstra write.
Curtis has a rough 4.9 walks per nine innings this season in the minor leagues, an indication of poor command. But, considering the Pirates' place in the NL Wild Card hunt, it's worth taking a chance on Curtis.
Besides, the righty has a fastball that can reach 99 mph, and his secondary pitches can also be elite options for the righty. Curtis, at 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, has already made his MLB debut and impressed while doing so.
5.0 innings of shutout baseball, allowing just two hits and two walks with four strikeouts, is a good way to begin his MLB career.
In Triple-A this season, however, he has a 5.76 ERA in 29.2 innings of work. There is some cause for concern, with 20 walks to 37 strikeouts in that span, but he's someone worth taking a chance on.
If Curtis can reach his potential, whether that's as a starting pitcher or as a multi-inning reliever out of the bullpen, the Pirates would benefit greatly from his presence in the pitching staff after their plethora of bullpen trade additions haven't really panned out.
With the Pirates bullpen being set, some might not think he's needed. However, there's no such thing as too much pitching in this game, and fans know that.
Leave a Comment