Five pitchers vie for the Pittsburgh Pirates' final rotation spot. How are they making their cases?
The Pittsburgh Pirates play their 11th Grapefruit League game Thursday, marking their rotation's third turn this spring.
So far, five pitchers remain in the running for the fifth starter’s spot. The winner will slot behind 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, right-handers Mitch Keller and Braxton Ashcraft, and rookie Bubba Chandler.
Jose Urquidy is the presumptive favorite to be the No. 5 starter. He signed a one-year, $1.5-million contract just before spring training began. Also in the competition are relief pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski, prospects Hunter Barco and Thomas Harrington, and non-roster invite Mike Clevinger.
Urquidy has one spring outing, allowing three runs on two hits in 1 2/3 innings, with two walks and two strikeouts.
He responded by pitching three scoreless innings against Team Colombia, a squad preparing for the World Baseball Classic. However, because Urquidy’s outing was not against another major-league team, it does not count in the Grapefruit League statistics.
Clevinger has pitched five scoreless innings, giving up three hits with four strikeouts and four walks. Healthy again after battling injuries in recent seasons, Clevinger faces an uphill battle because he is on a minor-league contract. He would need to be added to the 40-man roster if he makes the team.
Of the five fifth starter candidates, Clevinger has made 142 starts over nine seasons with Cleveland, the San Diego Padres, and the Chicago White Sox.
Mlodzinski is trying to convert from reliever to starter for the second straight year. He has pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits with five strikeouts and two walks.
Last season, Mlodzinski started in the rotation, going 1-4 with a 4.99 ERA in 12 starts and then posted a 2.12 ERA in 22 bullpen games.
The only left-hander in the running, Barco has not allowed a hit in 4 1/3 innings. He has been charged with one unearned run to go with five walks and six strikeouts.
Barco’s left-handedness could benefit him, as the rest of the rotation is right-handed.
Harrington has pitched two innings this spring. He allowed one hit and one run, walked two, and struck out none.
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