Pirates' Roansy Contreras: Set for steady rotation role
Rotowire
Contreras will be in the rotation for the entire 2023 season, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
Contreras spent the majority of the 2022 season in Pittsburgh, but he was used inconsistently. Despite pitching out of the rotation for much of the campaign, he was limited to fewer than five innings in 10 of his 21 appearances. Even so, between Triple-A Indianapolis and his work in the majors, Contreras complied 129.1 frames, so he could reasonably throw as many as 150 innings in 2023 so long as he maintains his health.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Roansy Contreras: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Contreras was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.
After allowing multiple runs in each of his last three starts, Contreras will finish the 2022 season in the minors. He put up a 3.79 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in the majors this season and will likely be back on the major-league roster to start 2023. JT Brubaker (arm) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Roansy Contreras: Another short outing
Rotowire
Contreras did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing four runs on three hits and two walks over three innings against the Cardinals. He did not record a strikeout.
For the fourth consecutive start, the rookie failed to reach five innings, coming as a bit of a surprise after he reached that mark in each of his previous six starts. It is possible the Pirates are simply limiting the 22-year-old's innings as he has now thrown 129.1 innings across all levels this season and averaged just 61.5 pitches over his last four starts, including his 50 Sunday, after averaging 91.0 in his previous six. Contreras is 5-5 with a 3.79 ERA this season.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Roansy Contreras: Yields two runs in short outing
Rotowire
Contreras pitched four innings Monday, allowing two runs on two hits and no walks while striking out two batters and taking a no-decision against Cincinnati.
Contreras surrendered a run in each of the first and third innings but allowed only two total baserunners across four frames. A 50-minute rain delay halted play in the bottom of the fourth, and the Pirates opted to not have the rookie right-hander warm back up and return. Contreras consequently failed to complete five innings for the third straight start, though this was an improvement over his previous outing, when he gave up six runs over 4.2 frames. Aside from a few blow-ups, he's shown promise this season, posting a 3.72 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 86:37 K:BB over 92 innings.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Roansy Contreras: Hit hard in loss
Rotowire
Contreras (5-5) took the loss Wednesday, allowing six runs on six hits and two walks over 4.2 innings against the Yankees. He struck out 10.
The Yankees hit Contreras hard Wednesday, as five of the six hits he surrendered went for extra bases. However, most of the damage came via an Oswaldo Cabrera grand slam in the first inning, as he allowed just two runs after that point. He recorded double-digit punchouts for the first time this season, and Wednesday marks the first time that he has allowed more than two runs since Aug. 17. He will take a 3.68 ERA into his next start.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Roansy Contreras: On limited pitch count
Rotowire
Contreras allowed one earned run on three hits and no walks while striking out three across four innings Wednesday against the Reds. He did not factor into the decision.
Contreras was pulled after only 55 pitches as the Pirates seek to manage his workload. He was effective during his time on the mound, racking up nine swinging strikes and nine called strikes. Since being recalled to the majors Aug. 17, Contreras has maintained a 2.43 ERA and 24:13 K:BB across 34.1 innings. He's also worked at least six innings in three of those six outings, though he may continue to get yanked early in appearances down the stretch.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Roansy Contreras: Picks up fifth win
Rotowire
Contreras (5-4) allowed one run on four hits and two walks over 5.1 innings Friday, striking out one and earning a win over the Cardinals.
Contreras cruised through five shutout frames before being charged with a run in the sixth. Despite the solid outing, he forced just six swinging strikes, his fewest since June 15 against St. Louis. In five starts since rejoining the MLB roster in August, the 22-year-old is sporting a 2.45 ERA with a 21:13 K:BB. Contreras has lowered his season ERA to 3.29 across 79.1 frames. He's projected to start in Cincinnati next week.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Roansy Contreras: Strikes out five batters
Rotowire
Contreras did not factor into the decision against Toronto on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits while striking out five and walking two over six innings.
Contreras pitched well Saturday, but the Pirates' bullpen could not hang on for the win. Contreras allowed six baserunners but limited the damage to just one run scored. The rookie starter tossed 65 of 92 pitches for strikes across six frames for his third quality start of the season and his second in his last three appearances. Contreras will take a 3.41 ERA into his next outing.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Roansy Contreras: Five scoreless innings
Rotowire
Contreras (4-4) earned the win Sunday, allowing no runs on three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over five innings against the Phillies.
The 22-year-old was effective once again for Pittsburgh as he held Philadelphia scoreless on 89 pitches through five innings. This was his fourth effort with more than a strikeout per inning since June 4 as he is putting all the pieces together. He will take a 3.86 ERA and 1.37 WHIP into his next start.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Roansy Contreras: Seven strong innings in loss
Rotowire
Contreras (3-4) took the loss Monday, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks over seven innings against Atlanta. He struck out five.
Contreras held Atlanta in check but for a two-run home run off the bat of Michael Harris in the fifth inning. The rookie has now thrown at least six innings in each of his two starts since being recalled to the majors and owns a modest 3.86 ERA on the season despite allowing seven runs over 1.2 innings in a start on July 7. The 22-year-old is next scheduled to face the Brewers in Milwaukee.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Roansy Contreras: Takes loss at home
Rotowire
Contreras (3-3) took the loss Wednesday, allowing four runs on six hits and four walks over six innings against the Red Sox. He struck out three.
Contreras allowed two run-scoring doubles, the first from second baseman Christian Arroyo for two runs in the second inning and the second from outfielder Alex Verdugo for another tally in the fifth. This was the first major league appearance since July 7 for Contreras, who had a case of the home-run bug with seven long balls given up in his last six outings prior to being sent down to Triple-A. Furthermore, the 22-year-old has allowed significant traffic on the bases with 14 walks and a 1.69 WHIP over 26.2 innings during the previously mentioned six-game span, and he had trouble again Wednesday during his first start back in the majors.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Roansy Contreras: Called up in advance of start
Rotowire
The Pirates recalled Contreras from Triple-A Indianapolis ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Red Sox in Pittsburgh, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Reliever Austin Brice was designated for assignment to clear space on the active roster for Contreras, who is back with the big club for the first time since early July. Though Contreras was one of the Pirates' better starters prior to being optioned to Triple-A -- he turned in a 3.78 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 50:22 K:BB in 50 innings -- the organization is mindful of not overworking the right-hander during his age-22 campaign. With that being the case, Contreras likely won't be asked to work more than five or six innings in any starts he makes down the stretch, and it's also possible that the Pirates look to build in additional rest days for him between outings.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Roansy Contreras: Set to start Wednesday
Rotowire
Contreras will be called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to start Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
Earlier Tuesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Contreras was on the verge of rejoining the Pirates, and the date of his next big-league start has now been set. Contreras has already thrown 20 more innings than he did in 2021, so while he could remain in the rotation the rest of the way, don't expect the Pirates to push him too much.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Roansy Contreras: Likely to rejoin big club
Rotowire
The Pirates are expected to call up Contreras from Triple-A Indianapolis within the next few days, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Pittsburgh hasn't confirmed any of its starters for this week beyond its series opener with the Red Sox, when Mitch Keller is scheduled to take the hill, so Contreras seems likely to slot into the rotation for either of the other two contests against Boston or at some point during the three-game weekend set against the Reds. Over his previous 12 outings in the big leagues this season spanning 50 innings, Contreras submitted a respectable 3.78 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 50:22 K:BB. Though he's clearly one of the organization's more talented starters, the 22-year-old Contreras is still likely to have some limitations with his pitch and innings counts down the stretch as the Pirates remain cognizant of not overworking him.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Roansy Contreras: Nothing left to prove at Triple-A
Rotowire
Contreras gave up one run on three hits and zero walks while striking out nine in four innings Friday for Triple-A Indianapolis.
It's pretty clear that Contreras belongs in the big leagues, especially considering the makeup of the Pirates rotation, and this may have been a dominant enough outing for it to be his last at Triple-A. The Pirates have been very careful with his innings so far this season, so he could pitch without restrictions the rest of the way.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Roansy Contreras: Chased early in tough outing
Rotowire
Contreras (2-2) allowed seven runs on five hits and two walks over 1.2 innings Friday, striking out one and taking a loss against Milwaukee.
Contreras coughed up seven runs -- including three homers -- in a disastrous second inning that he failed to complete. His final pitch of the outing resulted in a three-run shot by Rowdy Tellez. Over his last five starts, the right-handed rookie has posted a brutal 6.53 ERA with a 17:13 K:BB. Contreras' season ERA is up to 4.09; it's the highest his ERA has been since he allowed two runs out of the bullpen in his season debut. The 22-year-old is projected to start in Cincinnati next week.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Roansy Contreras: Sleeper pitchers for Week 12 (June 20-26)
Rotowire
Contreras hasn't been the immediate success many of us hoped he would be, but the whiffs have been fine. He'll face a strikeout-prone Cubs lineup in his first start and then gets a second bite at the apple later in the week.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Roansy Contreras: Struggles again Wednesday
Rotowire
Contreras allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 4.1 innings versus the Cardinals on Wednesday. He did not factor in the decision.
Despite a rough outing, Contreras exited with the game tied at 4-4. He's now surrendered eight runs (six earned) in nine innings across his last two starts after having not allowed more than two runs in any of his first six appearances. He's still at a reasonable 3.06 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 35:12 K:BB across 32.1 innings in eight outings (five starts) this year. He's projected for a more favorable home start versus the Cubs next week.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Roansy Contreras: Coughs up four runs
Rotowire
Contreras (1-1) yielded four runs (three earned) on eight hits and a walk over 4.2 innings Friday, striking out seven and taking a loss against Atlanta.
Most of the damage against Contreras came from Dansby Swanson's two-run shot in the third inning. Atlanta later tacked on another run in each of the fourth and fifth frames. It was his first appearance allowing more than two runs and his ERA climbed to 2.57 through 28 frames. Contreras is projected to start in St. Louis next week.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Roansy Contreras: One out shy of quality start
Rotowire
Contreras allowed an unearned run on four hits and two walks while striking out eight in 5.2 innings during Saturday's win over the Diamondbacks. He didn't factor in the decision.
Contreras was excellent through five innings, but a one-out Ketel Marte double, an error and a wild pitch allowed Arizona to get on the board first in the sixth. That left Contreras in line for a loss until Jack Suwinski walked it off for the Pirates with a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth. The 22-year-old right-hander has given up three runs (two earned) in 15.2 innings over his last three starts, which is giving him a strong case to stay in the rotation. He's at a 1.93 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 26:8 K:BB through 23.1 innings in six outings (three starts) this year. In the likely event he gets another start, Contreras is in line to make his next appearance on the road in Atlanta next week.
