ROANSY CONTRERAS NEWS

Spending time in bullpen Contreras is expected to move into a bullpen role for the near future, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Contreras still has time to deliver on his prospect pedigree, as he's just 23 years old, but his season so far has been a disappointment. He owns a 4.50 ERA through nine starts, with a 5.44 xFIP and 5.48 SIERA indicating that things could be considerably worse. His 16.4 percent strikeout rate, 10.8 percent walk rate and 35.5 percent groundball rate are all significantly worse than average. There's been no indication that the Pirates intend to permanently move him to the bullpen, but spending at least a few weeks there could help him reset while also help keep his innings in check. He threw 129.1 frames last season, so 150 innings is probably a fair target for this year.

MAY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Allows three runs in no-decision Contreras did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks over five innings in an 8-3 loss against the Diamondbacks. He struck out three.

Impact Contreras has gone four straight starts without a win -- he's 3-4 with a 4.50 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 35:23 K:BB through nine starts (50 innings) this season. The 23-year-old Contreras has looked good at times this season, tallying four quality starts, though he's been too inconsistent to trust for fantasy purposes. He's lined up to face the Mariners on the road in his next outing.

MAY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes loss despite solid outing Contreras (3-4) took the loss against Baltimore on Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out one batter.

Impact Contreras didn't allow more than one hit in any inning Saturday, but he was dinged for a pair of solo homers to account for the two runs against him. Meanwhile, a trio of Baltimore pitchers held Pittsburgh to three hits and no runs, resulting in Contreras being saddled with a tough-luck loss. The right-hander nonetheless finished with his fourth quality start of the campaign despite notching a season-low one punchout. Contreras has allowed two or fewer runs in five of his eight starts, but a few rough outings have put his season ERA at a less-than-inspiring 4.40.

MAY 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Falls to Toronto Contreras (3-3) took the loss Sunday, allowing five runs on nine hits and three walks over five innings against the Blue Jays. He struck out four.

Impact Contreras has dropped his last two starts, allowing nine runs on 15 hits over 10.1innings in that span. The 23-year-old right-hander now sports a 4.74 ERA with a 1.55 WHIP and 31:19 K:BB. Contreras has shown some promise at times early in his career, but he's been too inconsistent to trust for fantasy purposes. He's tentatively lined up to face the Orioles in his next outing.

MAY 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Falls to Tampa Bay Contreras (3-2) took the loss Tuesday, allowing four runs on six hits and four walks over 5.1 innings against Tampa Bay. He struck out three.

Impact Contreras held the Rays off the board for the first three innings, allowing just one hit. However, he started to unravel in the fourth, allowing a run following a Randy Arozarena leadoff double before allowing three more runs in the fifth and sixth innings. The loss snaps a run of three consecutive quality starts for Contreras. The 23-year-old right-hander now has a 4.09 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 27:16 K:BB through his first six starts this season.

MAY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Shuts down Dodgers Contreras (3-1) allowed two hits and two walks while striking out five across six innings to earn the win Wednesday against the Dodgers.

Impact Contreras was excellent throughout the appearance, as he allowed only two runners to reach scoring position across the six innings of work. He relied primarily on flyball outs, but he did get 26 combined called and swinging strikes across 87 total pitches. Setting aside a disastrous outing against Houston on April 10, Contreras has worked at least 5.2 innings in all of his starts while surrendering two or fewer earned runs in each. All told, he has a 3.58 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and a 24:12 K:BB across 27.2 frames.

APRIL 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Contreras' winning formula? Trust in his slider PITTSBURGH -- Roansy Contreras has more trust in his slider this year compared to last year, and on nights like Thursday, that trust was rew...

APRIL 21, 2023 • MLB.COM

Sharp in Thursday's win Contreras (2-1) earned the win Thursday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over 6.2 innings in a 4-3 victory over the Reds. He struck out eight.

Impact Contreras held the Reds off the board until the seventh inning, ultimately allowing just one run while racking up a season-high eight strikeouts. The 23-year-old Contreras has been great to start the year, apart from a seven-run loss against the Astros on April 10 -- he's allowed two runs or fewer in his other three starts. Overall, the young right-hander is 2-1 with a 4.57 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 19:10 K:BB through 21.2 innings this season.

APRIL 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Reds visit the Pirates to start 4-game series

The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Cincinnati Reds to open a four-game series

APRIL 20, 2023 • Associated Press

Allows two over six vs. Cardinals Contreras didn't factor into the decision Saturday against the Cardinals after allowing two runs on six hits over six innings. He walked three and struck out six.

Impact There was plenty of traffic and self-inflicted damage for Contreras in the no-decision, but the right-hander was able to keep the Cardinals at bay after giving up two runs in the first inning. He's pitched effectively in two of his three outings thus far in 2023 with the one exception being a seven-run struggle against the Astros in his previous start. It's true for many pitchers in the early stages, but Contreras has pitched better than his 6.00 ERA over 15 innings suggests.

APRIL 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

St. Louis Cardinals host the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday

The St. Louis Cardinals play the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday

APRIL 15, 2023 • Associated Press

Knocked around in loss Contreras (1-1) took the loss Monday, allowing seven runs on nine hits and four walks over 3.1 innings against the Astros. He struck out three.

Impact Contreras was unable to get into any sort of rhythm with the Astros' offense jumping all over him from the beginning. He surrendered one run in the first inning, three in the second, one in the third and two in the fourth before departing a 7-1 game. Monday's outing was a much different story for Contreras, who held Boston to one run on three hits, a walk and a pair of strikeouts over 5.2 frames in his first start of 2023.

APRIL 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Alvarez, Tucker lead Astros past Pirates 8-2

Yordan Alvarez had three hits and boosted his RBI total to a major-league-leading 16 by driving in two runs in the Houston Astros' 8-2 win over Pittsburgh

APRIL 11, 2023 • Associated Press

Pirates host the Astros to begin 3-game series

The Pittsburgh Pirates start a three-game series at home against the Houston Astros on Monday

APRIL 10, 2023 • Associated Press

Solid in first win Contreras (1-0) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over 5.2 innings in a 4-1 victory over the Red Sox. He struck out two.

Impact The 23-year-old right-hander wasn't dominant, managing only five swinging strikes among his 78 pitches, but he got the job done in Fenway Park. Contreras posted solid numbers last year in his first extended look at big-league hitters, and the Pirates are counting on him to emerge as a rotation stalwart this season. He sets up for a high-risk, high-reward two-step next week, beginning with a home start against the Astros before a weekend series in St. Louis.

APRIL 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ji Hwan Bae's 1st career homer helps Pirates top Red Sox 4-1

Ji Hwan Bae hit his first career homer, Bryan Reynolds went deep for the third time in two games and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1

APRIL 5, 2023 • Associated Press

Pirates bring 1-0 series advantage over Red Sox into game 2

The Pittsburgh Pirates face the Boston Red Sox with a 1-0 series lead

APRIL 4, 2023 • Associated Press

Ranking MLB's best 26-and-under pitchers

After ranking all 30 MLB organizations by their 26-and-under talent, here are our top-26 young pitchers.

MARCH 28, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Set for steady rotation role Contreras will be in the rotation for the entire 2023 season, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Impact Contreras spent the majority of the 2022 season in Pittsburgh, but he was used inconsistently. Despite pitching out of the rotation for much of the campaign, he was limited to fewer than five innings of work in 10 of his 21 appearances. Even so, between Triple-A Indianapolis and his work in the majors, Contreras complied 129.1 frames, so he could reasonably throw as many as 150 innings in 2023 so long as he maintains his health.

MARCH 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

MLB 26-and-under power rankings: No. 13 Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates' impressive group of young players begins with a pair of big-league infielders — and extends much further.

MARCH 8, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Pirates sign former Phillies pitcher to bolster starting rotation The newcomer joins a rotation that includes Mitch Keller, J.T. Brubaker, Roansy Contreras and potentially Johan Oviedo or Luis Ortiz, among...

DECEMBER 14, 2022 • PENNLIVE.COM

Amid the losses, Pirates believe end of overhaul is in sight

The Pittsburgh Pirates believe they are nearing the end of their top-to-bottom rebuild despite another 100-loss season

OCTOBER 6, 2022 • Associated Press

Pujols has 2 more RBIs, Cardinals beat Pirates 8-7 in 10

Albert Pujols drove in two more runs and the St. Louis Cardinals went on to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-7 in 10 innings Tuesday night

OCTOBER 5, 2022 • Associated Press

Optioned to Triple-A Contreras was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.

Impact After allowing multiple runs in each of his last three starts, Contreras will finish the 2022 season in the minors. He put up a 3.79 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in the majors this season and will likely be back on the major league roster to start 2023. JT Brubaker (arm) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move.

OCTOBER 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Another short outing Contreras did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing four runs on three hits and two walks over three innings against the Cardinals. He did not record a strikeout.

Impact For the fourth consecutive start, the rookie failed to reach five innings, coming as a bit of a surprise after he reached that mark in each of his previous six starts. It is possible the Pirates are simply limiting the 22-year-old's innings as he has now thrown 129.1 innings across all levels this season and averaged just 61.5 pitches over his last four starts, including his 50 Sunday, after averaging 91.0 in his previous six. Contreras is 5-5 with a 3.79 ERA this season.

OCTOBER 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE