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Posted at 12:15 PM EST.

7:10 PM EST. We absolutely love the new look of the overhauled Pirates, as they are winning impressively and they’re doing so while remaining under the radar. The Buccos just took two of three in Chicago against the Cubbies to run their record to 9-3. They have struck out a mere 30 times combined this season and to put that into perspective, Texas has struck out 92 times and these Marlins have struck out 84. That the Pirates put the ball in play and rarely strike out does not bode well for Dillon Peters (LHP).

Peters had been optioned to the minor leagues before receiving the call he’d been recalled because of an injury to Dan Straily. This is a starter that DID NOT make the team out of spring training after a dreadful spring in big league camp. In 7.2 innings, he posted a 1.95 WHIP. Primarily, Peters was struggling to command his fastball. A small-statured pitcher, Peters is reliant on good mechanics. They weren’t quite there this spring and his fastball suffered. In two starts this season, it’s much of the same story, as Peters has walked four, struck out five and has a 2.19 WHIP to go along with a 9.35 ERA and 6.89 xERA.   

Chad Kuhl (RHP) had an up and down season in 2017, but the results were mostly positive during the second half. He has been tough on right-handed bats to this point in his career, but lefties have given him some problems, primarily because of his poor 11% walk rate against them. He managed to punch out 24% of those he faced in the second half and he continues that upward trend this year. Kuhl dramatically improved his ERA and K-rate during the second half of 2017. He did record a 22% swing and miss rate with his slider in 2017, but the frequency at which he deployed the pitch bounced around a lot, and he consistently leaned heavily on the fastball. Kuhl looks better in two starts this year with three walks and 11 K’s in 11 frames. We’re just giving you the skinny on Kuhl here. Frankly, we don’t care who is pitching for the Pirates, as this is a fade on the Fish with a minor league pitcher starting.

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