The Pirates have sent 27-year old righty starting pitcher Daniel McCutchen to the minors and he certainly deserved this demotion. McCutchen pitched in 4 games (3 starts) for the Pirates so far this season and he is 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA and a 2.17 WHIP. He gave up 19 hits (5 homers) and he walked 7 batters in only 12 innings for the Pirates this season. The Pirates have brought back lefty Brian Burres from the minors. He pitched in 2 games (1 start) earlier this season for the Pirates and he was 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP. Don’t expect much out of him either as he is not a good pitcher.

The Pirates aren’t getting many innings from the starting pitchers so far this season (19 1/3 in four games) and it’s taxing the bullpen. The starters are 1-2 with a 7.45 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP for the Pirates so far this year. That just isn’t going to get the job done. The Pirates thought they were o.k. as far as starters go, and they might be, but they need to start pitching better starting right now.

After the 2007 season the Pirates thought that they had a building block for the foundation of the pitching staff, but he has been awful this season. He has started 12 games this season and he is 4-5 with a 6.83 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP. His big problem has been his control as he has walked 43 batters in only 59.1 innings this year. If that continues he might find himself back in AAA ball soon. That is a shame because Gorzelanny was so good last season. He was 14-10 with a 3.88 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP in 2007.

Ian Snell started off this season like a ball of fire but he has had a rough time since the All-Star Break.  In the 2nd half of the season, Snell has started 13 games and he is 2-7 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP.  In 78.1 innings, Snell has allowed 94 hits, walked 29 batters and whiffed 73.  Overall, Snell’s numbers look solid.  He has started 30 games this season for the Pirates and he is 9-12 with a 3.92 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.  In 195 innings he has allowed 198 hits, walked 62 batters and whiffed 166.  The Pirates are now 66-85 on the season which is good for 5th place in the N.L. Central, 12.5 games behind the Cubs and Brewers and 1 game ahead of the Astros.

The Pirates couldn’t have thought it was a good idea to sign a 39-year old Japanese pitcher in the off-season but they did it.  Kuwata has been overmatched since Day #1 with the Pirates and he had to go because he was pitching batting practice.  He pitched in 19 games this season for the Pirates and he was 0-1 with a 9.43 ERA and a 1.90 WHIP.  In 21 innings he allowed 25 hits, 6 homers, walked 15 batters and whiffed 12.  The Pirates have called up Matt Kata to take Kuwata’s spot on the roster.  Kata has played in 17 games this season for the Pirates and he is 6 for 28 (.214 avg) with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs.