BRADENTON, Fla. — Trevor Williams will start the second game of the season in Detroit next Saturday and Chad Kuhl will take the mound for the series finale the following day, Clint Hurdle told reporters following the Pirates' 8-2 loss to the Phillies on Friday at LECOM Park.
Additionally, right-handed pitcher Joe Musgrove, who missed time in spring training because of right shoulder discomfort, is expected to pitch in the series against the Reds at PNC Park, which begins Thurs., April 5. Jameson Taillon was named the starter for the home opener on April 1, and Ivan Nova will take the mound for the Pirates on opening day next Thursday at Comerica Park.
Williams, 25, had a 5.05 ERA in his first eight starts after being moved to the rotation last May, but then had a 3.97 ERA in his final 17 starts of the season. He had eight strikeouts to two walks in 5 1/3 innings against the Twins in Fort Myers on Wednesday.
Kuhl, also 25, had a 6.29 ERA and pitched through the sixth inning only twice in 10 starts to start last season. Then, he began throwing a curveball in a start at Arizona on May 31. The right-hander had a 3.58 ERA with 106 strikeouts and 55 walks in the 21 starts that followed.
Musgrove, acquired from the Pirates in the Gerrit Cole trade, has allowed eight runs in 6 2/3 innings this spring, striking out seven with three walks. He struggled in the rotation at the start of last season but was successful as a late-inning relief pitcher for the Astros, recording a 1.44 ERA with 31 strikeouts and only five walks in 31 1/3 innings for the World Series champions.
Hurdle's announcement establishes a clear order for the rotation, with Nova first, followed by Taillon, Williams, Kuhl and Musgrove, although changes could be made considering there are four off-days in the first month of the season.