Even if the Pirates had not said goodbye to four veteran starting pitchers over the winter, the rotation would have a different feel to it this season.
No one is sure what long-term effects, if any, the truncated 2020 season will have on pitchers’ arms and shoulders. This year, workloads will be closely scrutinized.
Manager Derek Shelton will be surprised if any pitcher in the majors tops 200 innings this season.
“I’m not saying someone won’t do it, but I think it’s going to be very challenging,” Shelton said on Saturday. “We as an industry have to be very mindful of pitchers, because I don’t think we’re going to see the residual effects of this until two or three years from now.”
To get through a full, 162-game schedule, the Pirates might end up using 10 or more starters.
