Pirates Insider Names Frontrunner For Fifth Starter Spot
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting rotation should be a strength again during the 2026 season.
Who will snag the team’s fifth (and potentially final) spot in the group after the likely quartet of Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Bubba Chandler and Braxton Ashcraft though?
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Pirates beat writer Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said on Friday that new acquisition Jose Urquidy is the current frontrunner for the gig.
“Urquidy has established pole position for the fifth starter spot,” Mackey wrote. “Now, things could absolutely change with an external addition. I still think they’ll add a left-handed starter to eat innings. But Urquidy has looked solid, has an impressive track record and has reverse splits (due to his changeup) that could play well at PNC Park.”
Pittsburgh agreed to a one-year deal with Urquidy in early February.
The 30-year-old right-hander spent the first seven years of his career with the Houston Astros, going 27-16 with a 4.00 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 329 strikeouts across 407 1/3 innings pitched covering 81 games (70 starts).
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Urquidy and the rest of the Pirates’ arms recently worked with retired former All-Star right-hander A.J. Burnett, who was invited to camp by Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly.
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