I like that the Pirates are doing bullpen games this year. It helps when one of your relievers can go five strong innings, like Luis Ortiz did on Friday in the Pirates’ 5-2 victory over the Rockies.
For the second time in the last week, the Pirates opened with RHP Carmen Mlodzinski, who started with a 1-0 lead after a home run from Bryan Reynolds in the first inning. Mlodzinski pitched a scoreless first, allowing a one-out single.
After Mlodzinski walked the leadoff batter in the second, the Pirates turned to Ortiz. The goal in these settings is typically for the next pitcher to go as long as he can. Last time around, Mlodzinski pitched 1.2 innings, and Ortiz went 4.1, getting the game to the seventh inning for the late inning relievers.
Ortiz once again got the Pirates to the seventh inning, allowing one run on seven hits, with no walks and three strikeouts in his five frames of work. They weren’t without incident.
In the third inning, Ortiz allowed a double and a single with one out, putting runners at the corners. A double play ground ball got him out of the jam. He gave up two, two-out singles in the fourth, but escaped with a fly out.
The lone run came in the sixth inning, and the inning could have been worse. Ortiz gave up a single and a double to start the inning, before getting a fortuitous double play on a fly ball to Connor Joe. After making the catch in shallow right field, Joe made a throw home that got the runner from third trying to score. Ortiz gave up a triple to the next batter, bringing in the one run he allowed, before getting out of the inning.
The Pirates turned to Ortiz one more time in the sixth inning, and he retired the side in order.
Bullpen Games are Working For Ortiz
The bullpen game just jumbles the order of the pitchers. If Ortiz would have made the start, going five innings, with one more from Mlodzinski, it wouldn’t be very notable. Instead, Mlodzinski pitches his inning first, with a chance to go multiple frames if he’s feeling it that day. Ortiz has definitely been feeling it in this long relief role.
In these last two bullpen games, Ortiz has allowed one run in 9.1 innings. He also pitched three scoreless frames to record a save at the start of the month, in a game where Mitch Keller allowed one run in six innings. In total, Ortiz has an 0.73 ERA in 12.1 innings in long relief this month. That follows a 3.29 ERA in 13.2 innings across seven appearances in a more “normal” multi-inning role last month.
With the rotation depth so thin right now, Ortiz stepping up in these bullpen contests has been huge.
The downside is that the bullpen could be thin this weekend. Colin Holderman, Aroldis Chapman, and David Bednar each pitched an inning in relief on Friday to close things out.
One day after the last bullpen game, the Pirates lost when turning to Ben Heller in the late innings. However, they’ve won both of these games started by Mlodzinski/Ortiz. Getting the win in the immediate game is the most important thing. The hope would be that the offense hits enough this weekend and the rotation pitches enough innings to spare the bullpen of any stress appearances.
Jared Jones takes the mound tonight at 9:10 PM, and Sunday’s starter is currently TBD.
Roster Moves
**Niko Goodrum was designated for assignment. The Pirates claimed the infielder off waivers earlier this week from the Angels. If he clears waivers with them, they can outright him to Triple-A, off the 40-man roster. Goodrum is in his age 32 season, and has spent parts of seven seasons in the majors. He went 3-for-29 in his appearances this year.
**RHP Hunter Stratton was placed on the 15-day IL with a right triceps strain. Stratton left the game on Thursday after throwing a pitch and calling to the trainers. His loss hurts the bullpen depth, with the Pirates lacking a consistent middle relief group.
**LHP Josh Fleming had his contract selected from Indianapolis. This is the second time this year that Fleming has been on the 40-man roster, working as depth out of the Pirates bullpen. He didn’t pitch in Friday’s bullpen game, though he could have helped if Ortiz struggled. Fleming should be able to help the bullpen this weekend after five relievers were used in the Friday victory.
Pirates Prospect Watch
Charles McAdoo extended his hitting streak to ten games on Friday for Greensboro. I wrote about McAdoo in today’s Prospect Watch, detailing his consistency at the plate this year.
Pirates Prospect Watch: Charles McAdoo Extends Hitting Streak to Ten Games
