Perrotto: Bailey Falter Gets Some Peace of Mind

LAKELAND, Fla. – Bailey Falter wasn’t necessarily effective on Monday.

However, the Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander felt relatively healthy. That was the main thing Falter was looking for when he started for a Pirates’ split squad in a 9-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers in a Grapefruit League game at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Falter was scratched from his scheduled start last Thursday because of what the Pirates termed general body soreness. However, Falter threw 59 pitches in 2.1 innings on Monday.

“I felt OK,” Falter said. “Definitely no pain or anything like that.”

Falter allowed three runs on five hits while striking out four and walking one. He admitted feeling a little rusty after his start was delayed, though he did have an aggressive bullpen session on Saturday.

“I just got out of my routine, so my arm was just a little bit achy but not enough where I had to like stop throwing or anything like that,” Falter said. “I’m in the buildup process (for the regular season), so I think going a week between starts threw everything off a bit. I’ll be in my regular five-day routine for my next start, so that will be good.”

Falter is scheduled to pitch Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles in Bradenton, Fla. That is expected to be his last start of spring training.

“I’ll be ready to go when the (regular) season starts,” Falter said. “I’m sure 100% on that.”

This has been a different spring training than Falter has ever experienced. In his three seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies from 2021-23 and last year with the Pirates, Falter used the Grapefruit League season to try to win a job in the rotation.

“This is the first spring training where I’ve actually come in a little bit more relaxed, not so uptight, not always looking over my shoulder,” Falter said. “I feel like I’ve always had a target on my back coming into spring training, so it’s nice to relax a little bit, focus on the stuff that you need to focus on, like getting ready for a season. It makes it a little more enjoyable.”

The 2024 season was enjoyable for Falter. He was in the Pirates’ starting rotation from the start of the season until the end except for a three-week injured list stint in July because of a strained left triceps.

In 28 starts, Falter had an 8-9 record and a 4.43 ERA with 97 strikeouts in 125.1 innings. He had never made more than 16 starts in his three previous seasons.

“I’ve learned that you’ve got to take every day seriously when you’re in the rotation,” Falter said. “We only throw once every five days, so we’ve got to do whatever it takes to be ready on that fifth day.”

Falter will be part of a potentially outstanding rotation led by Paul Skenes, who was the National League Rookie of the Year last season while finishing third in the NL Cy Young Award voting. The Pirates also have Mitch Keller and Jared Jones as starters along with lefty Andrew Heaney.

Falter believes the starting pitching is good enough to lift the Pirates to their first postseason appearance since 2015 and just their fifth winning season in 33 years. The Pirates open the season on March 27 when they visit the Marlins in Miami.

“We’re all super excited,” Falter said. “We’re ready for this year to start, and I think it’s going to be a good time.”

Just like Falter had a good time on Monday knowing that he is healthy with the start of the season just nine days away.