Pirates projected Opening Day rotation includes veteran swingman

Despite having one of the most exciting pitchers in the league in Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates have not been able to turn that into too many wins. They finished the regular season with a 71-91 record, missing the postseason for the 10th consecutive season. 

However, they have another stud pitcher getting ready to get a much bigger cup of coffee this upcoming season. Fans will want to get familiar with rookie Bubba Chandler, who was fully committed to playing football and baseball for the University of Clemson before he was drafted. 

He has an elite fastball, but he also has an elite changeup that plays very well off his fastball. He completes his repertoire with a slider and a curveball. 

He has front-of-the-rotation capabilities and could be a great one-two punch with Skenes, but could they use another arm? 

MORE: Pirates' Paul Skenes faces girlfriend and former LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne in bullpen session

Pirates projected Opening Day rotation includes a veteran swingman

Despite the excitement of Bubba Chandler's debut, Pittsburgh could still use another arm. You can't have too much pitching at this level, and Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter suggests that Nick Martinez could be the perfect pitcher to help round out this rotation. 

"With current rotation candidates Braxton Ashcraft, Bubba Chandler, and Carmen Mlodzinski boasting a combined 29 career starts in the majors, adding a veteran arm to soak up some innings at the back of the staff is a smart move for the Pirates. Nick Martinez could start the season in the rotation and shift to a swingman role in the bullpen where he has thrived in the past."

Martinez could be the perfect addition for this rotation. Not only is he a veteran presence that can help the young arms, but he also has the ability to move to the bullpen and act as a reliever. 

This would be a great addition for a team that has had an aggressive offseason period.

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