29-year old righty reliever Joel Hanrahan won the closer’s job in spring training and he has been nasty. Hanrahan has looked like ole Goose Gossage for the Pirates this year. He has pitched in 70 games (0 starts) for the Pirates so far this year and he is 1-4 with 40 saves, a 1.83 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. Hanrahan has now pitched in 175 games (0 starts) in his first three years with the Pirates and he is 5-6 with 46 saves, a 2.55 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He has only given up 137 hits in his first 169 2/3 innings for the Pirates while whiffing 198 batters and that is pretty darn impressive. When the Pirates take a lead into the 9th inning now, they feel comfortable that they are going to win.

26-year old righty starting pitcher James McDonald had a rough April for the Pirates, but he has been rock solid ever since. Since May 1st, McDonald has pitched in 23 games (all starts) for the Pirates in which he is 8-5 with a 3.30 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Overall this year, McDonald has pitched in 28 games (all starts) for the Pirates and he is 9-7 with a 3.98 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. McDonald is now one of the core members of the starting rotation as he has been solid ever since he came over in a deal with the Dodgers.

28-year old righty reliever Daniel McCutchen is pitching pretty well this year for the Pirates and it has been a pleasant surprise. In his first two years with the Pirates, McCutchen pitched in 34 games (15 starts) in which he was 3-7 with a 5.45 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. This year though, they have been using him exclusively in relief this year and the results have been good. McCutchen has pitched in 59 games (0 starts) for the Pirates so far this year and he is 4-3 with a 2.88 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. It looks like he’s found a new home in the Pirates’ bullpen assuming that he finishes the season strongly.

28-year old righty reliever Chris Resop is having another solid year for the Pirates. He has pitched in 47 games (0 starts) for the Pirates so far this year and he is 3-2 with 1 save, a 3.30 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He has whiffed 53 batters while only giving up 35 hits in his first 43 2/3 innings so far this year, which shows just how nasty he has been. Resop has now pitched in 69 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Pirates and he is 3-2 with 1 save, a 2.87 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. Resop has been quite a find for the Pirates.

30-year old righty starting pitcher Kevin Correia has been selected to the N.L. All-Star team to represent the Pirates. He will be replacing Cole Hamels who pitched for the Phillies yesterday. Correia has pitched in 20 games (19 starts) for the Pirates so far this year and he is 11-7 with a 4.01 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He has given up 123 hits in his first 116 2/3 innings but he has limited the damage by only walking 26 batters so far this year. It’s looking like Pirates made a nice move in signing Correia over the winter.