Pirates Feel Ripple Effects of the Luis Ortiz Trade

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting rotation depth was already put to the test before the season even began.

The Pirates entered their season opener down two-fifths of their potential starting rotation. Johan Oviedo is still recovering from Tommy John surgery and also has a lat issue. Jared Jones has a UCL sprain. Both players are on the 60-day injured list.

Though injuries haven’t helped, the rotation depth took a hit even before spring training began.

In December, the Pirates made a trade for first baseman Spencer Horwitz. In order to land him, they sent right-hander Luis Ortiz and a pair of pitching prospects to the Cleveland Guardians.

Ortiz returned to the mound at PNC Park as a member of the Guardians on Friday night in a 10-7 win for Cleveland. He pitched well, holding the Pirates to two runs in 5.0 innings and retired the final eight batters he faced. The right-hander recorded his second win of the season.

“He was amped up early in the game and was spraying the ball but then he settled down and pitched really well,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “I know it was an emotional night for him but he handled it well after that shaky start.”

Ortiz was opposed by Carmen Mlodzinski, who had been a reliever before he was deemed the best option to round out the Pirates’ starting rotation.

Mlodzinski was tagged for five runs on nine hits in 4.0-plus innings and didn’t strike out a batter.

“Just not good, honestly,” Mlodzinski said of his outing. “I executed some pitches here and there. I thought in-zone intention was good but just didn’t get the results I wanted.”

Once again, the second and third time through the order proved to be a challenge, as expected for a converted relief pitcher.

Mlodzinski held the Guardians scoreless through the first two innings before a rocky third inning. Bo Naylor broke the scoreless tie and the Guardians’ 2-3-4 hitters combined for three-straight hits, with Kyle Manzardo plating a run for a double.

Cleveland scored twice more in the fourth inning on a Naylor two-run double and once again when Joey Wentz came into the game for Mlodznski after a Jose Ramírez leadoff double. Ramírez scored on a Carlos Santana dribble to third, which was ruled an error committed by Jared Triolo but an RBI, thus an earned run. 

“I haven’t necessarily dove into exactly what are the results and what are the expected results the second and third time through the lineup but, just a quick glance, yes, second time I’m getting damaged. What does that mean? Right now, I don’t have a good answer. I’m going to have to dive in and kind of figure out what do I need to do with my stuff and what do I need to adjust to have success the second and third time through.”

Mlodzinski has made four starts this season. In the first two innings of those four outings, he hasn’t allowed a run. In innings three, four and five, he’s allowed 14 runs in nine innings, or a 14.00 ERA.

Manager Derek Shelton says the Pirates will be looking for answers.

To make matters worse, Horwitz has yet to suit up for the Pirates. The 27-year-old is on the injured list after undergoing wrist surgery. The good news for the Pirates is that Horwitz is getting closer to starting a rehab assignment, but it will still be several weeks before he makes his team debut.

Horwitz’s return will be big for the Pirates, and a good performance out of him would give the lineup a needed boost.

But the Pirates could use Ortiz’s services right now, even if the results haven’t been stellar. At least until they get one of their injured starters back or one of the prospects is called up, anyway.