The Pittsburgh Pirates are stirring up some intrigue with their latest rotation decision. While their starting lineup boasts talent like Paul Skenes and top prospect Bubba Chandler, and with Braxton Ashcraft showing promise last season, the spotlight now shifts to the fifth spot in the rotation.
Veteran Mitch Keller, often the subject of trade chatter, remains a steady presence. However, the Pirates have chosen to slot Carmen Mlodzinski into that final starter role. This move comes on the heels of transitioning Mlodzinski from the bullpen to a starting position last year, a decision that's raising a few eyebrows.
Mlodzinski's 2025 performance as a starter left much to be desired. Despite a solid spring showing, his previous season stats-4.99 ERA over 12 starts, 58 hits allowed, and just 36 strikeouts in 48.2 innings-suggest a rocky road ahead. His WHIP of 1.521 and a K/BB ratio of 2.25 indicate areas needing improvement.
The Pirates were active in bolstering their lineup this offseason, bringing in bats like Ryan O'Hearn, Marcell Ozuna, and Brandon Lowe. Yet, they refrained from adding a veteran arm to the rotation, opting instead to give Mlodzinski another shot as a starter.
Mlodzinski's history as a reliever has been more favorable, with a 2.15 ERA over 22 relief appearances in 2025. His struggles as a starter, however, are part of why he was initially moved to the bullpen. The decision to convert him back into a starter could impact his development and effectiveness.
This choice by the Pirates is certainly a gamble, and as the season unfolds, it will be interesting to see if Mlodzinski can rise to the occasion or if the Pirates will need to reevaluate their strategy.